close in
1. To physically surround, encircle, or approach someone or something. As the opposing troops closed in on us, I knew we would never win the battle. I need to get out of this little cabin—I feel like the walls are closing in around me. Look, the stray dog is going to feel threatened if we all close in on him at once.
2. To trap or confine someone or something in a particular space. In this usage, a noun or pronoun can be used between "close" and "in." The blizzard has closed us in, unfortunately, and we won't even be able to go skiing. Can you close the baby in the playpen? That way, she can't get into anything while we're cooking. A: "You know, it's hard to close the dogs in the backyard if you leave the gate open." B: "Oops. Did I do that?"
3. To approach very quickly or become imminent, as of a deadline. I procrastinated, and now the deadline for my paper is really closing in! The threat of war seems to be closing in on the turbulent region. This is just great—the printer can't accommodate us anymore, and the publication date is closing in.
4. To overwhelm or engulf someone, as of emotions. For a long time, I couldn't drive because feelings of fear closed in every time I got behind the wheel. I had hoped to give the eulogy, but once I got to the funeral, grief really closed in. When I looked down and saw my boyfriend on bended knee holding a ring, joy and shock closed in, and I immediately started crying.
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.
close someone or something in (something)
to contain someone or something in something or some place; to seal someone or something inside something. Don't close the bird in such a small cage. Don't close me in! Leave the door open.
close in
(on someone or something) 1. Lit. to move inward on someone or something. The cops were closing in on the thugs. They closed in quietly and trapped the bear.
2. Fig. [for threats or negative feelings] to overwhelm or seem to surround someone or something. My problems are closing in on me. I feel trapped. Everything is closing in.
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
close in
1. Surround, enclose, envelop, as in The fog closed in and we couldn't see two yards in front of us, or She felt the room was closing in. [c. 1400]
2. Also, close in on or upon . Draw in, approach, as in The police closed in on the suspect. [Early 1800s]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer. Copyright © 2003, 1997 by The Christine Ammer 1992 Trust. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.