boxed-in
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- Adjective:
- Enclosed in or as if in a box: Describes something that is physically surrounded or confined within a box-like structure.
- Feeling trapped or restricted: Describes a psychological or situational state of feeling confined, limited, or without options.
Usage Examples
- Adjective:
- The workers felt boxed-in by the new, restrictive office cubicles. (Describes a feeling of physical and psychological confinement.)
- The old town square is boxed-in by tall modern buildings. (Describes a physical enclosure.)
- During the debate, the candidate felt boxed-in by the interviewer's persistent questions. (Describes a feeling of being trapped in a situation.)
Advanced Usage
- "to feel boxed-in": A common collocation expressing a sense of being trapped, often by circumstances, rules, or other people's actions.
- After years in the same job, he started to feel boxed-in and craved a new challenge.
Variants and Related Words
- Box (verb): To pack into a box; to fight in the sport of boxing.
- Box (noun): A rigid container; a compartment.
- Boxy (adjective): Shaped like or resembling a box.
- Boxcar (noun): An enclosed railway freight car.
Synonyms
- Confined: Limited within bounds.
- Trapped: Caught and held in a place or situation.
- Hemmed in: Surrounded or enclosed closely.
- Cramped: Restricted in space.
Related Phrasal Verbs
- Box in (phrasal verb): To surround or trap someone or something, preventing movement or escape.
- The clever defense boxed in the star player, preventing him from scoring.
- I parked my car and then another car boxed me in.
Related Idioms
- Painted into a corner: Forced into a difficult situation with no good options (similar in meaning to feeling psychologically boxed-in).
- His lies finally painted him into a corner from which he couldn't escape.
Adjective
- enclosed in or as if in a box
- boxed cigars
- a confining boxed-in space
- felt boxed in by the traffic