WordLens

box in

1 of 1verb
/ˈbɑks ɪn/
Forms:boxes in,boxing in,boxed in,boxed in
1

to physically confine or surround a person or thing so closely that they cannot move away or escape

  • The protesters felt boxed in by the police barriers.
  • The unexpected move boxed in their strategic planning.
  • She sensed being boxed in by the crowded room.
  • The team strategically boxed the opponents in during the game.
Synonyms:
box up
2

to limit someone's choices, making it difficult for them to take the actions they intended

  • The new regulations boxed the company's expansion plans in.
  • The team felt boxed in by tight project deadlines.
  • The political leader found himself boxed in by conflicting priorities.
  • The employee felt boxed in by the restrictive office policies.
  • Despite efforts to innovate, they felt boxed in by industry norms.