C
Idioms beginning with "C"
Part of speech, explanation, example sentences, pronunciation
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Contents of C:
[clock]
See:
[AGAINST TIME] or [AGAINST THE CLOCK],
[AROUND THE CLOCK] or [THE CLOCK AROUND],
[PUT BACK THE CLOCK] or [TURN BACK THE CLOCK],
[GO LIKE CLOCKWORK] or [GO OFF LIKE CLOCKWORK],
[TURN THE CLOCK BACK].
[clock watcher] {n. phr.}, {informal}
A worker who always quits at once when it is time; a man who is in a hurry to leave his job.
When Ted got his first job, his father told him to work hard and not be a clock watcher.
[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.
[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.
[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 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 […]
[close out] {v.}
To sell the whole of; end (a business or a business operation) by selling all the goods; also, to sell your stock and stop doing business.
The store closed out its stock of garden supplies.
Mr. Jones closed out his grocery.
* […]
[close quarters] {n. phr.}
Limited, cramped space.
With seven boy scouts in a tent, they were living in very close quarters.