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.
When he does speak on television I shut out his words and follow his endlessly moving hands.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 4, 2026
Diplomats reached out to nations like Azerbaijan and Georgia, which also shut out Iran airlines.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 26, 2026
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
He was shut out in those two categories for only the third time in two years.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 11, 2026
Tally turned away from the vulpine eyes, shut out the razor- blade voice.
From "Uglies" by Scott Westerfeld
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.
