Hem in Meaning in English
expression
ˈhɛm/ /ˈɪn/, /ɪn
HEM-IN
hˈɛm/ /ˈɪn
HEM-IN
Definition
To surround someone or something and prevent movement or escape; also to restrict someone's actions or freedom.
Usage & Nuances
'Hem in' is often used with people, places, or situations, both physically and metaphorically. Common collocations: 'hemmed in by', 'feel hemmed in'. More formal or literary; in everyday speech, 'trapped' or 'boxed in' are more common.
Spanish: acorralar - encerrar - limitarPortuguese (BR): confinar - cercar - limitarPortuguese (PT): confinar - cercar - limitarChinese (Simplified): 包围 - 限制Chinese (Traditional): 包圍 - 限制Hindi: घेरे रखना - सीमित करनाArabic: يُطوّق - يَحاصر - يُقيّدBengali: বেষ্টিত করা - সীমাবদ্ধ করাRussian: окружать - ограничиватьJapanese: 囲い込む - 制限するVietnamese: bao vây - hạn chếKorean: 둘러싸다 - 제한하다Turkish: kuşatmak - sınırlamakUrdu: گھیر لینا - محدود کرناIndonesian: mengurung - membatasi - mengepung
Example Sentences
The high walls hem in the small garden.
basic
Tall buildings hem in the city park.
basic
She felt hemmed in by her busy schedule.
basic
Whenever I'm with my family, I sometimes feel a bit hemmed in.
natural
He hates being hemmed in by strict rules at work.
natural
We were completely hemmed in by traffic and couldn't move for an hour.
natural