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.
To date, MLS has largely been shut out of such maneuverings.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jul. 10, 2026
They have already shut out Spain, but I don't see them stopping Argentina, who are probably the most streetwise team in the tournament, and you cannot look past Lionel Messi having the final say.
From BBC • Jun. 28, 2026
Vozinha, Cape Verde’s goalkeeper, made seven saves to shut out Spain.
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 19, 2026
As some AI firms go public, China is shut out.
From MarketWatch • Jun. 12, 2026
There are blinds on the window to shut out the glare of the sun.
From "At Last She Stood" by Erin Entrada Kelly
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.
