shut out

Idioms  

1. 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]

2. 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.

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Example Sentences

A long history of art robberies shows that museums may never quite be able to shut out thieves.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 1, 2026

He learned then that people who post extreme content often flock to new sites and flood the system until they are shut out and eventually move on to somewhere else.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 31, 2026

But when rates soared to over 7% in late 2023 and home prices continued to tick upward, many would-be buyers were shut out of the market.

From MarketWatch • Feb. 26, 2026

England captain Harry Brook said Saturday that it would be "a shame" if Pakistani players were shut out of England's domestic white-ball Hundred competition by Indian-owned franchises.

From Barron's • Feb. 21, 2026

Earmuffs are not enough to shut out the fun I am missing.

From "Muffled" by Jennifer Gennari