C
Idioms beginning with "C"
Part of speech, explanation, example sentences, pronunciation
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Contents of C:
[close at hand] {adj. phr.}
Handy; close by; within one's range.
My calendar isn't close at hand, so I can't tell you whether we can come next week or not.
I always keep my pencils and erasers close at hand when I work on a draft proposal.
[close call] or [shave] {n. phr.}
A narrow escape.
That sure was a close call when that truck came near us from the right!
When Tim fell off his bicycle in front of a bus, it was a very close shave.
[closed book] {n.}
A secret; something not known or understood.
The man's early life is a closed book.
For Mary, science is a closed book.
The history of the town is a closed book.
[closed-door] {adj.}
Away from the public; in private or in secret; limited to a few.
The officers of the club held a closed-door meeting.
The committee decided on a closed-door rule for the investigation.
Compare: [IN PRIVATE].
[close down] or [shut down] {v.}
To stop all working, as in a factory; stop work entirely; also: to stop operations in.
The factory closed down for Christmas.
The company shut down the condom plant for Easter.
[closed shop] {n. phr.}
1. A plant or factory that employs only union workers.
Our firm has been fighting the closed shop policy for many years now.
2. A profession or line of work dominated by followers of a certain mode of thinking and behaving […]
[close in] {v.}
To come in nearer from all sides.
We wanted the boat to reach shore before the fog closed in.
- Often used with "on".
* /The troops were closing in on the enemy.
[close its doors] {v. phr.}
1. To keep someone or something from entering or joining; become closed.
The club has closed its doors to new members.
2. To fail as a business; go bankrupt.
* /The fire was so damaging that the store had to close its […]
[close-knit] {adj.}
Closely joined together by ties of love, friendship, or common interest; close.
The Joneses are a close-knit family.
The three boys are always together. They form a very close-knit group.
[close one's eyes] or [shut one's eyes] {v. phr.}
To refuse to see or think about.
The park is beautiful if you shut your eyes to the litter.
The ice was very thin, but the boys shut their eyes to the danger and went skating.
Compare: [OPEN […]