wegsperren
to lock away
To lock someone up so that he or she cannot escape, typically in a prison or a closed institution.
EXAMPLE
Der gefährliche Verbrecher wurde für viele Jahre weggesperrt.
The dangerous criminal was locked away for many years.
wegsperren
to lock away
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Meanings
wegsperren
to lock away
To keep an object in a safe, locked place so that no one can access it.
EXAMPLE
Sie hat die vertraulichen Dokumente in den Tresor weggesperrt.
She locked the confidential documents away in the safe.
Usage tips
Separable verb
'Wegsperren' (to lock away) is a separable verb. The prefix 'weg-' goes at the end in a main clause. In subordinate clauses and in the infinitive with 'zu', the verb stays together.
EXAMPLE
Er sperrt das Geld immer weg.
He always locks the money away.
Verb structure
The verb consists of the prefix 'weg-' and the verb 'sperren' (to lock/block). The prefix 'weg-' emphasizes the idea of removing something or hiding it in another place.
EXAMPLE
Bitte sperr die Süßigkeiten weg, sonst esse ich alles auf.
Please lock the sweets away, otherwise I'll eat them all.
Context clue
You can tell whether a person or an object is meant from the accusative object. If it is a person, it means to lock someone up. If it is an object, it means to store it safely.
EXAMPLE
Man muss den Täter für immer wegsperren.
They need to lock the offender away forever.
Register and style
When speaking about people, 'wegsperren' (to lock away) is a very direct and colloquial formulation. It emphasizes the intention to remove someone from society.
EXAMPLE
Die Nachbarn sagten, man sollte solche Leute einfach wegsperren.
The neighbors said that people like that should simply be locked away.
Compare with
wegsperren vs einschließen
to lock in / include / enclose
Both verbs can express locking up a person. „Einschließen“ mainly describes someone remaining inside a locked place, while „wegsperren“ places more emphasis on keeping someone away and making escape impossible. „Wegsperren“ is therefore especially suitable for prisons or secure institutions.
wegsperren
Das Gericht ließ den Mann in einer geschlossenen Anstalt wegsperren.
The court had the man locked away in a secure institution.
einschließen
Die Pflegekraft schloss den Patienten für kurze Zeit im Zimmer ein.
The nurse locked the patient in the room for a short time.
In real life
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