to lock out
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to lock oneself out
To accidentally deny oneself access to a room or building by closing the door without having a key with you.
Ich habe mich aus meiner eigenen Wohnung ausgesperrt, weil der Schlüssel drinnen liegt.
I locked myself out of my own apartment because the key is inside.
to lock out
To deliberately deny someone entry by locking the door.
Nach dem Streit hat sie ihn wütend ausgesperrt.
After the argument, she angrily locked him out.
to lock out
In the context of a labor dispute, for an employer to deny employees access to the workplace.
Die Geschäftsführung drohte damit, die streikenden Mitarbeiter auszusperren.
The management threatened to lock out the striking employees.
This verb consists of the prefix 'aus' (out) and the verb 'sperren' (to lock/block). The meaning is very literal: to keep someone or oneself outside by locking or blocking access.
Er hat seine kleine Schwester aus dem Zimmer ausgesperrt.
He locked his little sister out of the room.
'Aussperren' (to lock out) is a separable verb. The prefix 'aus' moves to the end of the sentence in a main clause. In the infinitive with 'zu', 'zu' stands between the prefix and the verb.
Pass auf, dass du dich nicht aussperrst!
Be careful that you don't lock yourself out!
The usage distinguishes between intention and accident. 'Sich aussperren' (to lock oneself out) is reflexive and means that you accidentally exclude yourself. 'Jemanden aussperren' (to lock someone out) is transitive and describes a deliberate action against another person.
Gestern habe ich mich schon wieder ausgesperrt.
Yesterday I locked myself out yet again.
When you want to state where you locked yourself out of, you use the preposition 'aus' with the dative.
Ich habe mich aus dem Auto ausgesperrt und der Schlüssel ist drinnen.
I locked myself out of the car, and the key is inside.
This meaning of 'aussperren' (to lock out) is used almost exclusively in the context of labor law and strikes. It describes a measure taken by the employer.
Die Firma hat die streikende Belegschaft ausgesperrt.
The company locked out the striking workforce.
to exclude / rule out
Both reflexive verbs can describe the situation of being outside one’s locked apartment. „Sich aussperren“ is the usual form and emphasizes the lack of access; „sich ausschließen“ is possible, but it is usually supplemented with „aus der Wohnung“ (out of the apartment). In this everyday situation, people therefore generally say „sich aussperren“.
Ich habe mich aus der Wohnung ausgesperrt und muss auf den Schlüsseldienst warten.
I locked myself out of the apartment and have to wait for a locksmith.
Ich habe mich aus der Wohnung ausgeschlossen und muss auf den Schlüsseldienst warten.
I locked myself out of the apartment and have to wait for a locksmith.
