lock in

What it means

To focus hard and get serious about something. It came from gaming and sports, where locking in means shutting out distractions before a big moment. Kids use it about homework, practice, and finals week.

In the wild

"Two weeks till the test, time to lock in."

The parent note

This one is genuinely positive, and borrowing it back at your kid tends to land better than the word "concentrate."

Tracked since August 26, 2026 across public sources. Meanings drift fast, so this entry is refreshed automatically as usage changes.