What Does It Mean To 'Lock In'? The Internet Slang Term Inspiring Memes About 'Tweaking' VS. Being 'Locked In' Explained

When push comes to shove, most people know that they need to quit tweaking out and just lock in to get the job done. Teens have been using the colloquialism "lock in" for over a decade now, typically to describe how they are done "dilly-dallying" and have decided to focus on the task at hand.

But where did the slang expression originate, and what's the best way to add the slang term to your vocabulary? Here's a look at all the memes that joke about being "locked in," and a look at the history of the word online.

Where Did The Term 'Locked In' Come From?

"Locked In" is a phrase that likely originated from AAVE, with an Urban Dictionary user posting their interpretation of the term as early as 2009. The user described the phrase as getting "extra extra focused on your dream."

Looking at the way several internet users used the phrase "locked in" in 2012, this interpretation of the word holds up as an origin. Many Twitter users talked about "locking in" for exams and life milestones, as seen in the examples below.

How Did The Phrase 'Locked In' Become A Meme Online?

In 2023, the phrase "When You Gotta Lock In" was popularized online. Some memes joked about "locking in" or making a straight, serious face when your phone's Face ID doesn't recognize you or "locking in" when the barber gets to your hairline so you don't accidentally cause him to mess it up.

When Did The Tweaking vs. Locked-In Dichotomy Arise?

Sometime later in the year 2023, a user on X recounted their experience of visiting the aquarium with their Zoomer little brother, only to have him spend the whole trip pointing at different fish to say, "that fish is locked in" or "that fish is tweaking."

The hugely viral post inspired people to share their own memes about how tweaking out is diametrically opposed to locking in, as seen in the memes below.

What's Up With Memes About Being 'Born To Dilly Dally' But Being 'Forced To Lock In'?

In 2024, the internet saw another wave of memes showing the other side of being locked in. X user @fatfatpankocat posted a two-panel cat meme showing a silly-looking cat sitting in front of a cat-sized laptop with the caption, "Born to dilly dally / Forced to lock in."

The use of the phrase "dilly dally" to counter the narrative of being "locked in" inspired a host of redraws and memes that showed other people who were born to faff about and those who are forced to get with the program.

For the full history of the term Locked In, be sure to check out Know Your Meme's encyclopedia entry for more information.