Readerquestion:
Pleaseexplain "lockin" inthissentence: Coachcongratulatedtheteamandtoldustorestupandlockinonournextopponent.
Mycomments:
Afterwinningagame, apparently. Coachaskedplayerstotakeagoodrestandcomebackfocusedonthenextopponent, withoutletup.
That'swhatitmeanstolockinonsomething. Literally, lockinginmeans, forexampletogetsomeoneinsidearoom, thenlockthedoor, leavingtheminsidetheroom, safeandsecure.
Safeandsecure, perhaps, butalsotrapped. Tophysicallylocksomeoneorsomethinginsideaparticularplaceistotrapthemoritthere. Obviously, prisonersarelockedupintheircell.
Itisfromthissenseofbeingconfinedtoaplacethatpeoplelearnedtousethisphrasefiguratively. Tolockinonsomethingmentally, forexample, istofocusonit. Inourexample, itistofocusonthenextgame.
Firmlyfocusonthenextgame, as "lock" impliessecurityandsteadfastness, meaningtheplayerswillremainfirmandcommittedtothenextgame, firmandresoluteandunwavering.
Allright, herearemediaexamplesof "lockin" invariousforms:
1. RogerFedererwilllooktopunchhistickettothethirdroundoftheAustralianOpenforthe 15thconsecutiveyearonDay 4 whenhesquaresoffagainstworldNo. 99 BlazKavcicinRound 2 atMelbournePark.
Thetwoplayershavenevermetbefore, butthesixth-seededFedererwillenterasaheavyfavorite.