hem in
phrasal verb.to surround someone or something so they cannot move or act freely.
phrasal verb.to enclose or confine within a restricted space or situation, preventing movement or progress. Often used in the passive voice to describe physical or metaphorical restrictions.
“The tall buildings hem in the small park.”
“During the protest, the police managed to hem in the crowd to prevent them from reaching the square.”
“The small startup felt hemmed in by the aggressive patent litigation and regulatory hurdles imposed by its larger competitors.”
Frequently used in the passive form 'to be hemmed in' followed by 'by'.
Connect the meaning to the 'hem' of a garment—a border that keeps the fabric from fraying—to help students visualize the concept of a boundary.