# coop up

CEFR B2 · Phrasal verb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/coop-up
Updated: 2026-04-24

## Definition

to keep a person or animal in a small space for a long time so they cannot move freely.

For teachers: 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.

## Pitfalls

- Not "I was coop up in my room." but "I was cooped up in my room." — when used as an adjective to describe a state, the past participle form 'cooped' is required.

## Usage notes

- 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.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.