Lock in means to get fully focused: to put everything else aside for a while and give a task your all, especially when it's difficult. People say it to friends and write it in chats, often before an exam, a deadline or an important match. In a message to a colleague, an essay or IELTS Speaking, use the ordinary focus: I need to focus on my exams.
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lock in (+ for + exam/match); time to lock in; be locked in
- Our team is locking in for Saturday's match: extra training every evening this week.
- Okay, phone on silent, it's time to lock in and finish this report.
- He was completely locked in during the final and didn't miss a single shot.
What changed
First versionDon't text me tonight, I'm lock in for tomorrow's exam.
RevisionDon't text me tonight, I'm locking in for tomorrow's exam.
After I'm you need either a process, I'm locking in, or a state, I'm locked in. A bare verb doesn't go after am; it's the same mistake as I'm agree. Here the person is talking about what they'll be doing tonight, so locking in fits.
Outside slang, lock someone in means to lock a door so that someone can't get out: Someone locked me in the office by mistake. Slang lock in has no object: Time to lock in. If lock is followed by a person, it's about a locked door.
Your turn
My exam is on Monday, so this weekend I'm ___: no parties, no games.
Show the answer
locking in — The person is giving up parties and games for the exam, which means they plan to focus: locking in. Locking up means locking a door or a house, and it has nothing to do with studying.
Write to a friend explaining why you'll be slow to reply for a few days. Name the task you'll focus on and the deadline for finishing it.
My conference slides are due on Thursday, so I'm locking in until then. Don't expect quick replies.
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