Confined or trapped in a small space, usually used in 'cooped up'; kept in close quarters with limited freedom.
From 'coop' (a cage for poultry), which comes from Dutch 'koop' meaning 'basket' or 'cage'. The phrase 'cooped up' emerged in the 1700s, comparing human confinement to animals trapped in coops.
The phrase 'cooped up' perfectly captures how humans, like chickens, go a little crazy when confined—there's actual psychology here about space and mental health. Kids who are cooped up inside show behavioral changes, just like caged birds.
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