Cool MateDetain vs Gonna lock me up
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Detain
FormalTop 2,000 (common)C1verb
Gonna lock me up
InformalTop 5,000 (fairly common)
Most formal: DetainMost common: Detain
| Detain | Gonna lock me up | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/dɪˈteɪn/","/dɪˈteɪnz/","/dɪˈteɪnd/","/dɪˈteɪnɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/dɪˈteɪn/","/dɪˈteɪnz/","/dɪˈteɪnd/","/dɪˈteɪnɪŋ/"]/ | 🇬🇧 //ˈɡən.ə lɒk mi ʌp//🇺🇸 //ˈɡɒ.nə lɑk mi ʌp// |
| Meaning | To keep someone in a place, usually by the police, so they cannot leave. | To be put in prison. |
| Example | The police decided to detain the suspect for further questioning. | If you keep breaking the law, they're gonna lock me up. |
| Register | Formal | Informal |
| How common | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 5,000 (fairly common) |
| CEFR level | C1 | - |
| Part of speech | verb | |
| Collocations | briefly, indefinitely, illegally, need not, for, in connection with, be detained in custody, be detained in hospital, detain somebody without charge | gonna lock up, gonna lock someone up, gonna get locked up |
| Antonyms | release, free, liberate | - |
| Common mistakes | Confused with 'retain' which means to keep possession of something., Using 'detain' when referring to someone simply waiting, instead of being held by authority., Incorrectly using 'detain' without specifying who is being detained. | Confused with 'going to' - 'gonna' is informal and not suitable for formal contexts., Using 'gonna' in written essays or formal emails., Misunderstanding context - it's often used metaphorically, not just literally. |
| Usage notes | Used in legal and police contexts. Be careful using it informally; it's not common in everyday conversations about delays or waiting. | Used in informal contexts, often in song lyrics or casual conversations. Not suitable for formal writing or speech. |
See it in real clips
Frequently asked questions: Detain vs Gonna lock me up
What's the difference between Detain and Gonna lock me up?
Detain: To keep someone in a place, usually by the police, so they cannot leave. Gonna lock me up: To be put in prison.
Which is more formal: Detain and Gonna lock me up?
Detain is the most formal of these.
Which is more common: Detain and Gonna lock me up?
Detain is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
Detain: The police decided to detain the suspect for further questioning. Gonna lock me up: If you keep breaking the law, they're gonna lock me up.
Can I use Detain and Gonna lock me up interchangeably?
Not always. Detain and Gonna lock me up are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.