shut out
Idioms-
Exclude, deny entry to, block, as in Anyone convicted of a crime is shut out from the legal profession , or These curtains shut out all the light . [Late 1300s]
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Prevent an opponent from scoring, as in They were shut out of the last two games , or Reagan shut out Ford in the Texas primary in 1976. Originating in baseball about 1880, this usage was later transferred to other sports and then even broader usage.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Miller called it a "clear win for local democracy and for every resident who refused to be shut out of a decision with profound consequences for our communities".
From BBC ● Sep. 15, 2026
But with the Department for Work and Pensions expanding its AI-assisted call centre and local councils following suit, she says older people are increasingly feeling shut out by new technology when contacting services they need.
From BBC ● Aug. 20, 2026
“The resolution amount reflects the harm to U.S. workers when they are shut out of applying for lucrative technology jobs,” the department said.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 4, 2026
As labels strike deals with AI start-ups, advocacy groups warn that the artists whose voices and work make those deals valuable are being shut out.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 30, 2026
Inflated by his successes on the board, his ego had begun to shut out other people.
From "Endgame" by Frank Brady
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
