April 03, 2016 Word of the Day
hems; hemmed; hemming
The white knight is hemmed in by the black knights.
Definition of HEM IN
[+ object]
: to sew down a folded edge of cloth on (something) : to give (something) a hem
hem the dress/skirt/trousers
The curtains need to be hemmed.
hem in [phrasal verb]
hem (someone or something) in or hem in (someone or something)
: to surround (someone or something) very closely or in a way that makes movement or escape difficult — usually used as (be) hemmed in
The town is hemmed in by mountains on all sides.
He was hemmed in by reporters as he tried to leave the courthouse.
— often used figuratively
He felt hemmed in by the school's rules. [=he felt that the rules prevented him from acting freely]
— compare HEM
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