box up

1. To force to be in a small or confining space. A noun or pronoun can be used between "box" and "up." Now that Jenny is off at college, can I move into her bedroom? I'm sick of being boxed up in my tiny room. I always take the stairs because I hate boxing myself up in an elevator. Why does the cat like to box herself up in the corner of the closet?

2. To pack objects into a box. A noun or pronoun can be used between "box" and "up." I am in the process of boxing up my entire house for a cross-country move. Please be careful when you box those dishes up. We're getting ready to move into the new house, and the dog is very suspicious now that we've begun boxing up her toys and food.

boxed up

1. slang Incarcerated. You'll be boxed up if they find out you're the one who embezzled the money. I've been boxed up for too long. I don't think I would even know how to function on the outside at this point. I heard Charlie's boxed up again after knocking over a liquor store last week.

2. slang Drunk. Do you remember last night at the bar at all? You were really boxed up! Well, I must have been boxed up if I did karaoke at the bar! Help him get home, will ya? He started drinking whiskey, and now he's boxed up.

boxed (up)

1. mod. alcohol or drug intoxicated. I am way boxed, and I feel sick.

2. mod. in jail. Pat was boxed up for two days till we got bond money.