close the door on someone—
1. refuse to allow a person in:
- Next a policeman let several people in including Dick, but closed the door on me.
2. refuse to talk to or have any more dealings with a person:
- They closed the door on their daughter when she married without their consent.
close the door to someone—(of a club, university, etc.) refuse admission:
- This country must not close the door to immigrants and refugees.
Cf.: open the door to someone—allow a certain category of people to enter or join:
- The Anglican church had recently opened the door to women by ruling that national bodies could choose their own bishops.