30+ Close Idioms: Meanings, Examples, and Everyday Expressions
Close idioms are expressions that describe narrow escapes, strong relationships, personal feelings, careful attention, and situations that are almost finished. Common examples include “a close call,” “close to home,” “close ranks,” and “too close for comfort.” These phrases appear in everyday American conversations, workplace discussions, news reports, and informal writing.
Learning close idioms helps you understand what people mean when their words have a figurative meaning rather than a literal one. Some expressions focus on physical distance, while others describe emotional connections, near accidents, or situations that almost succeed. Below are more than 30 useful expressions, along with clear meanings and original example sentences.
What Are Close Idioms?
Close idioms are established expressions that use the word close or communicate the idea of closeness, nearness, unity, or a narrow margin. Their meanings may be figurative rather than literal.
For example, “a close call” does not mean making a phone call to someone nearby. It describes a situation in which something bad almost happens but is avoided. Similarly, “close to home” can describe a comment that feels personally relevant or uncomfortable.
Not every expression containing close is a true idiom. Some are ordinary combinations of words, while others have a special figurative meaning. The expressions below include common idioms and closely related phrases that are useful for American English learners.
English meaning – Cambridge Dictionary+2
Common Idioms With Close and Their Meanings
These expressions are useful in everyday conversations, storytelling, and informal writing.
| Idiom or expression | Meaning | Example sentence |
|---|---|---|
| A close call | A narrow escape from danger or trouble | Missing the falling branch was a close call. |
| Close, but no cigar | Almost successful, but not quite | You guessed the answer correctly in spirit, but close, but no cigar. |
| Too close for comfort | Uncomfortably near or risky | That truck passed us too close for comfort. |
| Close to home | Personally relevant or emotionally sensitive | Her comments about family conflict hit close to home. |
| Close ranks | Unite to support or defend a group | The employees closed ranks after the unfair criticism. |
| Keep a close eye on | Watch someone or something carefully | Please keep a close eye on the oven. |
| Keep close tabs on | Monitor something carefully | The manager keeps close tabs on spending. |
| At close range | From a short distance | The photographer captured the bird at close range. |
| At close quarters | Very near, often with little space | The workers had to operate at close quarters. |
| A close shave | A narrow escape from danger | Avoiding the accident was a close shave. |
| A close thing | A situation with an uncertain outcome | The final game was a close thing until the last minute. |
| Too close to call | Too evenly matched to predict a winner | The election was too close to call. |
| Close the gap | Reduce a difference or distance | The team worked hard to close the gap in points. |
| Come close to | Nearly do or experience something | I came close to missing my flight. |
| Come to a close | Reach an end | The meeting came to a close at noon. |
| Bring something to a close | Make something end | The host brought the discussion to a close. |
| Close the door on | End an opportunity or possibility | She refused to close the door on a new career. |
| Close the books on | Treat something as finished | The company closed the books on a difficult year. |
| Close the deal | Complete an agreement successfully | The salesperson closed the deal before Friday. |
| Close up shop | Stop operating a business, temporarily or permanently depending on context | The small bookstore closed up shop after twenty years. |
The most useful expressions to learn first are “a close call,” “close to home,” “too close for comfort,” and “close ranks.” They occur in a variety of everyday situations and have meanings that are not always obvious from the individual words.
Oxford Learner’s Dictionaries+3
Idioms About Close Relationships
Some expressions use closeness to describe friendship, family connections, emotional bonds, or personal importance. These phrases are common when discussing relationships and feelings.
21. Close to Someone
Meaning: To have a strong emotional connection with someone.
Example: “I’m very close to my sister because we share everything.”
22. Get Close to Someone
Meaning: To develop a personal or emotional connection with someone.
Example: “It took several months for the new coworkers to get close to one another.”
23. Hold Someone Close
Meaning: To keep someone physically near or maintain a strong emotional attachment to them.
Example: “She held her children close during the difficult family gathering.”
24. Close to One’s Heart
Meaning: Something that is especially important or meaningful to someone.
Example: “Helping homeless animals is a cause close to her heart.”
25. Keep Someone Close
Meaning: To maintain a strong relationship with someone or ensure that the person remains nearby.
Example: “He tries to keep his oldest friends close, even when work gets busy.”
26. A Close-Knit Family
Meaning: A family whose members share strong bonds and support one another.
Example: “They grew up in a close-knit family where everyone helped during difficult times.”
27. Close as Thieves
Meaning: Very friendly and familiar with each other, often sharing secrets or private activities.
Example: “The two childhood friends are as close as thieves and rarely keep secrets from each other.”
This expression is informal. Although it uses the word thieves, it usually describes a close relationship rather than actual criminal behavior.
28. A Close Bond
Meaning: A strong emotional connection between people.
Example: “The coach and her players developed a close bond over the season.”
These expressions help describe relationships in natural English. Remember that some, such as “a close bond” and “a close-knit family,” are conventional phrases rather than strict idioms.
Idioms About Finishing or Ending Something
The word close can also suggest completion. These expressions are useful when discussing projects, meetings, business arrangements, and major decisions.
29. Come to a Close
Meaning: To reach an end.
Example: “The school year came to a close with a graduation ceremony.”
30. Bring to a Close
Meaning: To finish an event, meeting, or discussion.
Example: “The principal brought the assembly to a close with a short speech.”
31. Close the Door on Something
Meaning: To end or reject a possibility.
Example: “He does not want to close the door on the opportunity to study abroad.”
32. Close the Books on Something
Meaning: To consider a matter finished and move forward.
Example: “After resolving the dispute, both companies were ready to close the books on the issue.”
33. Close the Deal
Meaning: To complete a business agreement or sale successfully.
Example: “The real estate agent worked with both parties to close the deal.”
34. Close Up Shop
Meaning: To stop operating a business or, informally, to stop an activity.
Example: “The restaurant closed up shop after years of serving the neighborhood.”
These expressions are especially useful in professional communication. “Come to a close” describes something ending, while “close the deal” refers specifically to completing an agreement.
Idioms About Paying Attention and Staying Safe
Several expressions involving close describe careful observation or a situation in which distance creates danger.
35. Keep a Close Eye On
Meaning: To watch something carefully.
Example: “The teacher kept a close eye on the students during the science experiment.”
36. Keep Close Tabs On
Meaning: To monitor someone or something carefully.
Example: “The project manager keeps close tabs on the team’s progress.”
37. Too Close for Comfort
Meaning: Uncomfortably near or dangerously close.
Example: “The baseball flew past the spectator’s head, making the moment too close for comfort.”
38. At Close Range
Meaning: From a short distance.
Example: “The wildlife photographer observed the deer at close range.”
39. At Close Quarters
Meaning: In a confined space or at very close physical distance.
Example: “The rescue workers had to coordinate carefully while operating at close quarters.”
40. A Close Call
Meaning: A situation in which an accident, mistake, or other undesirable event almost happens but is avoided.
Example: “We had a close call when another driver suddenly changed lanes.”
“A close call” and “too close for comfort” are particularly useful in stories about traffic, sports, travel, and unexpected problems. The first emphasizes narrowly avoiding trouble, while the second emphasizes how uncomfortable or dangerous the proximity felt.
English meaning – Cambridge Dictionary+2
How to Use Close Idioms in Everyday English
The best way to learn these expressions is to connect each one with a realistic situation. You do not need to memorize every phrase at once. Start with a few common expressions and practice using them in your own sentences.
| Situation | Natural expression | Example |
|---|---|---|
| You almost miss a flight | A close call | “That was a close call at the airport.” |
| A comment feels personal | Close to home | “His remarks about financial stress hit close to home.” |
| You watch a child carefully | Keep a close eye on | “Please keep a close eye on the baby.” |
| A business agreement succeeds | Close the deal | “They closed the deal after two meetings.” |
| A contest has no clear winner | Too close to call | “The race was too close to call.” |
| A family supports one another | Close-knit family | “They belong to a close-knit family.” |
Tips for Learning Close Idioms
- Learn the meaning in context. Understand the situation in which an expression is used instead of memorizing its words individually.
- Practice with original examples. Write a sentence about your family, school, work, or daily activities.
- Pay attention to tone. Expressions such as “close, but no cigar” are informal, while “bring the meeting to a close” is suitable for professional situations.
- Learn similar expressions together. Compare “a close call” with “a close shave” to understand how different phrases can communicate nearly the same idea.
- Read and listen regularly. Pay attention to how American speakers use idioms in conversations, interviews, articles, and everyday storytelling.
With regular practice, these expressions can make your English sound more natural and help you understand figurative language more easily.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Conclusion
Close idioms describe much more than physical distance. They can express strong relationships, narrow escapes, personal feelings, careful attention, and the completion of important tasks. Expressions such as “a close call,” “close to home,” “close ranks,” and “close the deal” are useful examples of how one word can appear in phrases with very different meanings.
