lock down

[/lɑk daʊn/]
verb/noun
confinamento; isolamento; trancar; bloquear
1. (verb) To restrict movement and access to an area, typically for security or health reasons
The government decided to lock down the city during the pandemic.
O governo decidiu confinar a cidade durante a pandemia.
2. (verb) To secure or fasten something firmly in place
Make sure to lock down all the equipment before transport.
Certifique-se de travar todo o equipamento antes do transporte.
3. (noun) A state of confinement or restricted movement imposed by authorities
The city was under a strict lockdown for two weeks.
A cidade ficou sob um confinamento rigoroso por duas semanas.
4. (verb) To finalize or secure an agreement, plan, or decision
We need to lock down the budget before the end of the quarter.
Precisamos finalizar o orçamento antes do final do trimestre.
The term 'lockdown' became ubiquitous globally during the COVID-19 pandemic (2020-2021). In Brazil, the Portuguese term 'confinamento' was widely adopted in media and government communications, though 'lockdown' is also commonly used in English in Brazilian business and academic contexts. The phrase carries strong associations with pandemic restrictions and security measures in both American and Brazilian cultures.
NYC Slang
shut it down; lock it up
Synonyms / Sinônimos
confinerestrictsecurequarantineisolateseal offshut down
Antonyms / Antônimos
releasefreeopenunlockliberate

Regional Variations

General Brazilian
confinamento; isolamento; trancar
Most common usage in Brazil, especially post-COVID
Rio de Janeiro
confinamento; fechamento
Common in informal speech and news media
São Paulo
lockdown; confinamento
Often uses the English term directly in business and governmental contexts
Portugal
confinamento; encerramento
Portuguese Portuguese tends to use 'confinamento' more formally

Related Words

quarantinecurfewrestrictionisolationconfinementsecurity protocol

Related Idioms & Phrases

lock down the house
lock down a deal
put the lockdown on something
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