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hem in

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hem someone or something in

Fig. to trap or enclose someone or something. The large city buildings hem me in. Don't hem in the bird. Let it have a way to escape.

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hem in somebody/something

also hem somebody/something in

to surround someone or something They found themselves hemmed in by the crowd. The building was hemmed in by high walls.

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hem in

v.

1. To surround and enclose someone or something: Tall mountains hemmed in the valley. The troops hemmed their enemy in on all sides.

2. To restrict or confine someone or something: Don't hem me in with all these regulations. The police hemmed in the rowdy crowd.

See also: hem