The English We Speak: Lock in
Learning English Conversations
BBC
4.6 • 1.2K Ratings
🗓️ 6 January 2026
⏱️ 3 minutes
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Summary
This phrasal verb means to focus hard with no distractions. Learn how to use it here!
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Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | Hello and welcome to the English We Speak, where we explain phrases used by fluent English speakers so that you can use them too. |
| 0:14.9 | I'm Faye Faye and I'm here with Beth. Hi Beth. Hi, Faye. I am exhausted. I've been studying for hours before my Spanish exam. I really had to lock in last night. |
| 0:27.6 | Lock in? You weren't locked in a room, were you? No. Lock in means focus really hard on something. |
| 0:35.2 | Commit to the tasks and avoid distractions. I turned off my phone and studied |
| 0:40.3 | as much as I could. I see. So you worked seriously and with concentration. Lock-in is all about |
| 0:47.8 | intense focus, determination and boosting productivity. Exactly. All my focus was on my revision. |
| 0:55.4 | No distractions. |
| 0:57.1 | You might also hear lock in about sports. |
| 1:00.3 | Players might lock in before they play a big match. |
| 1:03.7 | Yes. |
| 1:04.2 | Also, we can lock in on our goals. |
| 1:06.7 | For example, I'm preparing to run a half marathon in three months, |
| 1:13.8 | so I need to lock in on my fitness goals. |
| 1:19.1 | Wow, good luck. Yes, thank you. Let's listen to more examples of lock in. |
| 1:29.7 | I really need to stop failing my driving test. I'm going to have to just lock in and do loads of practice. |
| 1:34.6 | Right, guys, I've done no work all day, so I've had a coffee, |
| 1:38.7 | and this afternoon I really just need to lock in and get some stuff done. |
| 1:41.6 | I never see my kids in the evening anymore. |
| 1:43.5 | They're locking in for their exams. |
| 1:53.5 | Lock-in is informal. You're more likely to use it with friends and family than in a professional setting. We can also describe someone as being locked in, meaning they're doing something |
| 2:00.0 | with extreme focus. Well, I was definitely locked in last meaning they're doing something with extreme focus. |
| 2:02.1 | Well, I was definitely locked in last night and I'm ready for this exam. |
... |
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