Meaning of hem up | Babel Free

Definitions

1. To restrain (a person) by grabbing their collar.
   informal, transitive
2. To arrest or lock up.
   slang, transitive

Examples

“Taking him home she hemmed him up soon as they stepped in the door. Now Tony was a bad dude in the streets but when it came to his mama, he was a punk. A few cuss words on her part had him spilling everything.”

“Felicia and Jorge remained inside, observing in horror. Carlos hastily went to where his brother was and grabbed him with all his might. He placed him in a choke-hold and hemmed him up on the brick wall.”

“The last thing you want is to get hemmed up in prison.”

CEFR level