Phrasal verb
coop up
Definition
phrasal verb. to keep a person or animal in a small space for a long time so they cannot move freely.
phrasal verb. to confine a person or animal in a restricted or cramped space; often used in the passive voice to describe the resulting feeling of frustration or restlessness.
Examples
“The rain kept the children cooped up inside all day.”
“After being cooped up in a tiny office for eight hours, I really need to go for a walk.”
“The livestock were cooped up in narrow pens during the storm, leading to significant distress among the herd.”
Examples
simple
“The rain kept the children cooped up inside all day.”
contextual
“After being cooped up in a tiny office for eight hours, I really need to go for a walk.”
complex
“The livestock were cooped up in narrow pens during the storm, leading to significant distress among the herd.”
Usage
most commonly used as a past participle ('be cooped up') or with the verb 'keep'.
Teaching tip
the word comes from 'coop' (a small cage for chickens), which helps students visualize the sense of being trapped in a small, uncomfortable space.
Pitfall
I was coop up in my room.
I was cooped up in my room.
when used as an adjective to describe a state, the past participle form 'cooped' is required.
Phrasal verb
Particles
up
Separability
optional
Pattern
coop + object + up
Synonyms
Antonyms
Grammar
Scan code
englishreference.com/q/coop-up