under lock and key

prepositional phrase

Imprisoned with little or no chance of escape; locked up.

“If it was him we can have him under lock and key in 24 hours.”

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Meanings

prepositional phrase
  1. UKUSidiomaticImprisoned with little or no chance of escape; locked up.

    If it was him we can have him under lock and key in 24 hours.

  2. UKUSidiomaticSafely guarded; locked away.

    It is the policy of the organization to keep unused check supplies safeguarded under lock and key.

    2008, Edward J. McMillan, Model Policies and Procedures for Not-for-Profit Organizations, page 239

Translations

Finnish lukkojen takana
  • lukkojen takanasafely guarded, locked away
French sous clé
  • sous clésafely guarded, locked away
Polish pod kluczem
  • pod kluczemsafely guarded, locked away
Spanish a cal y canto
  • a cal y cantosafely guarded, locked away
Cite this entry
APA

under lock and key. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/under%20lock%20and%20key

MLA

“under lock and key.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/under%20lock%20and%20key. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “under lock and key,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/under%20lock%20and%20key.

Source: under lock and key on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.