coop up

coop up

To restrict someone or something to a particular, usually small, space for a length of time. A noun or pronoun can be used between "coop" and "up." Just let the dogs run in the yard—they've been cooped up all day. After that snowstorm cooped us up for days, we were thrilled to leave the house again. Whew, I need some fresh air—I've been cooped up in the library all day writing my term paper.

See also: coop, up

Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.

coop someone or something up

to confine someone or something in a small place. Don't coop me up. I can't stand small places. We had to coop up the dogs for a while.

See also: coop, up

McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.