closed case—a legal case that has been decided: Trying to reopen a closed case is a very difficult, time consuming (and usually expensive) process. open-and-shut case—a legal case that is easily settled or decided: The jury feels this is an open-and-shut case but Sir John experiences doubts.
Difference between Close up a shop and Close up shop
close up a shop —(also: shut up a shop) close a shop securely before leaving (for the weekend, etc.): The shop was closed up for the night, so Kermit used his key and went up the back way. close up shop —(also: shut up shop) 1. (of an office, firm, etc.) stop doing business for […]
Difference between Close up and Close-up
close up— 1. close completely: The wound is closing up but underneath it it’s still a little tender and bruised. 2. come nearer to each other: As soon as he saw the movement of the crowd the captain gave the order to his men to close up. 3. (of a shop, etc.) close (for a […]
Difference between Close to something and Close with something
close to something— 1. situated near to smth.: The area is a 70-hectare nature reserve lying close to the town. 2. nearly equal to smth.: Visually the print is very close to the original painting in color, tone and texture. close with something—mean with one’s money, etc.: “Was he in the habit of making you […]
Difference between Close to someone and Close with someone
close to someone—intimate or very familiar with smb.: Mr. Weinberger is close to the President … much closer than Mr. Haig has ever been. close with someone—(coll.) stingy towards a person: He was close with his son and never allowed him any pocket-money.
Difference between Close time and Closing time
close time—a season when it is illegal to kill certain animals or fish: He would extend the close time, and he believes that in a year the nets would be catching far more fish. closing time—the time at which pubs, shops, etc. end business: The art museum was fantastic, and we stayed until closing time.
Difference between Close thing and Closest thing
close thing—(also: close shave) said of a dangerous situation that a person just manages to avoid: John had just saved his bacon. It had been a very close thing. closest thing, the—most similar to a person or thing mentioned: Pat Branson was the closest thing to a manual worker among us.
Difference between Close the door on someone and Close the door to someone
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 […]
Difference between Close the book on something and Close the books on something
close the book on something—put an end to a matter; stop working on a case: The police insinuate that David may have been involved in illegal activities and seem to close the book on the case. Note: The expression does not correlate in meaning with the phrase closed book, a—used of a person or thing […]
Difference between Close the barn door after the horse gets out and Your barn door is open
close the barn door after the horse gets out—not take any action until after a problem has already occurred: The problem is that post-accident testing closes the barn door after the horse is long gone. your barn door is open—(U.S. euph.) is used as a caution to a man having his trouser zip undone: “Excuse […]
Difference between Close something up and Shut something up
close something up— 1. (of a well) close by filling up: We must close up the old well, it’s dangerous. 2. (of a road) close by blocking: Leaving town I saw a few signs saying that the road was closed up ahead. 3. cause smth. to join together: Children have to learn to close up […]
Difference between Close something down and Shut something down
close something down—(of a shop, factory, etc.) cause to cease functioning: The shop had been closed down following the medical inspection report. shut something down— 1. = close something down: The severe winter shut many factories down this year. 2. (of an engine, piece of equipment, etc.) turn off: They shut the machine down so […]