C
Idioms beginning with "C"
Part of speech, explanation, example sentences, pronunciation
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Contents of C:
[close ranks] {v. phr.}
1. To come close together in a line especially for fighting.
The soldiers closed ranks and kept the enemy away from the bridge.
2. To stop quarreling and work together; unite and fight together.
* /The Democrats and […]
[close the books] {v. phr.}
To stop taking orders; end a bookkeeping period.
The tickets were all sold, so the manager said to close the books.
The department store closes its books on the 25th of each month.
[close the door] or [bar the door] or [shut the door] {v. phr.}
To prevent any more action or talk about a subject.
The President's veto closed the door to any new attempt to pass the bill.
* /Joan was much hurt by what Mary said, and she closed […]
[close to home] {adv. phr.}
Too near to someone's personal feelings, wishes, or interests.
When John made fun of Bob's way of walking, he struck close to home.
* /When the preacher spoke about prejudice, some people felt he had come too close to […]
[close up shop] {v. phr.}
1. To shut a store at the end of a day's business, also, to end a business.
The grocer closes up shop at 5 o'clock.
After 15 years in business at the same spot, the garage closed up shop.
2. {informal}
To stop some […]
[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-up] {n.}
A photograph, motion picture, or video camera shot taken at very close range.
Directors of movies frequently show close-ups of the main characters.
[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 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 […]