cage
enclosure of bars for animals
A box or room made of bars or wire that keeps an animal or person inside it.
a cage for [an animal]
- The parrot hopped around inside its small cage.
- Zoo workers cleaned the lion's cage early in the morning.
- He opened the cage and let the rabbits run out into the yard.
- The police kept the suspect in a holding cage at the station.
- They bought a bigger cage so the hamster would have more room.
- The bird lives in a cage.
- She puts the cat in a cage when they go to the vet.
- The dog sleeps in a cage at night.
- He opened the cage and the bird flew away.
put into a cage
To place an animal or person in a cage so they cannot get out.
to cage [an animal/person]
- They cage the dogs during transport for safety.
- The rescued birds were temporarily caged while the vets examined them.
- Farmers often cage chickens to protect them from foxes.
- He refuses to cage his parrots because he thinks they should fly freely.
- Protesters argued that it was cruel to cage wild animals in tiny spaces.
- They caged the bird at night.
- The zoo workers cage the animals after closing time.
- Please do not cage the dog for too long.
- The cat was caged during the flight.
restrictive or confining situation
A life situation that feels like a prison and stops you from living the way you want.
the cage of [abstract noun]
- For her, the office felt like a cage she had to escape.
- He finally broke out of the cage of debt that controlled his life.
- The story explores how social expectations can become a cage for young women.
- His fear built an invisible cage around him, stopping him from trying new things.
- She lives in a gilded cage, with every luxury but no real freedom.
- He says his job is a cage.
- She wants to leave the small town because it feels like a cage.
- Debt can be a cage for many people.
- The rules of her family were a cage for her.
fenced area for sport/fighting
A closed space with a fence or net around it where people practice sports or fight in matches.
in the cage
- They spent an hour in the batting cage before the game.
- The fighters entered the cage to start the main event.
- He feels calm as soon as he steps into the cage to train.
- The gym added a new cage for mixed martial arts classes.
- Young players practiced their swings one by one in the cage.
- We hit balls in the batting cage.
- The two fighters are in the cage now.
- He trains every day inside the cage.
- The new sports center has a big cage for practice.
framework protecting something inside
A strong structure made of bars or bones that goes around something to protect it.
a cage around [something]
- The rib cage protects the heart and lungs.
- Engineers added a metal cage around the fan for safety.
- The light bulb is covered by a small wire cage.
- He installed a safety cage on the racing car.
- A steel cage surrounds the machine to prevent accidents.
- Your rib cage protects your heart.
- There is a metal cage around the fan.
- The lamp has a small cage around the light.
- The car has a safety cage inside.
limit freedom like a cage
To control someone or something so much that it feels like they are in a cage and cannot live freely.
to be caged by [something]
- She felt caged by the strict rules of her family.
- The character is emotionally caged by his past mistakes.
- He refused to let his career cage him into one city.
- Many people feel caged in by debt and rising costs.
- Artists do not want to be caged by other people's expectations.
- She feels caged by her job.
- He is caged by fear and does nothing.
- They do not want to be caged by tradition.
- I feel caged in this small town.
- Base: cage
- Plural: cages
- Base: cage
- 3rd Person Singular: cages
- Present Participle: caging
- Past: caged
batting cage
1enclosed baseball practice area
A long, closed space with nets or fences where people practice hitting baseballs or softballs.
- We took the kids to the batting cage after school.
- He spends hours in the batting cage working on his swing.
- The park recently opened a new indoor batting cage.
bird cage
1cage for keeping pet birds
A cage made especially for keeping pet birds inside a home.
- She cleaned the bird cage and changed the water.
- The bird cage hangs near the living room window.
- They bought a larger bird cage so the parrot could move around more.
cage match
1fight or wrestling match in a cage
A wrestling or fighting event where the fighters compete inside a closed cage.
- The main event is a cage match between two top fighters.
- Fans waited all night to see the first cage match of the tournament.
- He became famous after winning a brutal cage match.
cage-free
1not raised in cages (animals)
Used about farm animals, especially hens, that are allowed to move around and are not kept in cages.
- The supermarket sells only cage-free eggs now.
- They switched to buying cage-free chicken for ethical reasons.
- Many consumers are willing to pay more for cage-free products.
feel caged in
1feel trapped or restricted
To feel trapped or stuck in a place or situation, as if you are in a cage.
- She feels caged in by her small apartment.
- Many employees feel caged in by strict office rules.
- After months of bad weather, he felt completely caged in at home.
gilded cage
1comfortable life without real freedom
A life that looks rich and beautiful but still does not give real freedom.
- She married into money but now feels she is living in a gilded cage.
- The novel describes fame as a kind of gilded cage.
- For him, the high-paying job became a gilded cage.
rattle someone's cage
1deliberately upset or provoke someone
To do or say something that makes someone angry, nervous, or uncomfortable, usually on purpose.
- The journalist really rattled the politician's cage with that question.
- He's just trying to rattle your cage, so don't let him bother you.
- The new manager rattled a few cages by changing long-standing rules.
rib cage
1Bony structure of the chest
All the ribs together, forming the hard cage around your heart and lungs.
- The impact bruised his rib cage but caused no internal damage.
- She injured her rib cage in the accident.
- Wearing a seat belt helps protect your rib cage in an accident.
- The doctor pressed gently on his rib cage to check for pain.
- Your rib cage expands every time you take a deep breath.