Idioms are special phrases that mean something different from what the words say on their own. People use them to make their speaking and writing more colorful, descriptive, and fun. In this guide, you will learn many popular expressions that describe being physically near, having a strong personal bond, or barely winning or losing a contest.
In this lesson, we’ll look at idioms for close that mean being near in distance, having a tight friendship, or almost reaching a result. Let’s get started and explore some of these helpful expressions.
Idioms for Close
1. Close to home
Meaning: Affecting someone deeply because it relates directly to their personal life or experiences.
For Example: The story about the lost dog hit very close to home for our family. / Her comments about friendship felt a bit too close to home.
Other Ways to Say: Personally relevant / Deeply affecting
2. Close at hand
Meaning: Located near you in distance or time so it is easy to reach.
For Example: Always keep a pencil close at hand during math class. / The summer holidays are finally close at hand.
Other Ways to Say: Nearby / Within reach
3. Close knit
Meaning: A group of people who are tightly united by strong affection and mutual support.
For Example: Our neighborhood has a very close knit community that helps everyone. / The soccer team became a close knit group during the tournament.
Other Ways to Say: Tightly bonded / United family
4. Close call
Meaning: A situation where a dangerous or unpleasant event was barely avoided.
For Example: Slipping on the ice was a close call, but I managed to catch myself. / That flying baseball was a close call for the spectators.
Other Ways to Say: Near miss / Narrow escape
5. By the skin of your teeth
Meaning: Succeeding in doing something by the smallest possible margin.
For Example: He passed his difficult spelling test by the skin of his teeth. / Our team won the basketball match by the skin of our teeth.
Other Ways to Say: Barely made it / Just in time
6. Too close for comfort
Meaning: So near in distance or outcome that it makes you feel worried or anxious.
For Example: That lightning strike near the park was too close for comfort. / The final score was far too close for comfort for our coach.
Other Ways to Say: Worryingly near / Uncomfortably close
7. Close quarters
Meaning: Living or working together in a very cramped or small space.
For Example: The campers lived in close quarters during the rainy week. / Working in close quarters made the team learn to share tools.
Other Ways to Say: Cramped space / Tight conditions
8. Close shave
Meaning: A very narrow escape from a serious accident or big trouble.
For Example: Steering away from the tree was a real close shave for the cyclist. / Forgetting his passport before boarding was a close shave.
Other Ways to Say: Narrow escape / Close call
9. Near and dear
Meaning: Deeply loved, cherished, and important to a person’s heart.
For Example: My childhood pet will always remain near and dear to me. / Family traditions are very near and dear to our hearts.
Other Ways to Say: Deeply cherished / Precious to you
10. Close to your heart
Meaning: Something that is extremely important to you because you care deeply about it.
For Example: Protecting local wildlife is a cause very close to her heart. / He held his grandmother’s old ring close to his heart.
Other Ways to Say: Deeply valued / Cared for greatly
11. Two peas in a pod
Meaning: Two people who are extremely similar and almost always seen together.
For Example: My brother and I are like two peas in a pod when we play video games. / Those two friends are like two peas in a pod at school.
Other Ways to Say: Inseparable friends / Exactly alike
12. Thick as thieves
Meaning: Being exceptionally close friends who trust each other and share secrets.
For Example: Marcus and Sam have been as thick as thieves since kindergarten. / Those two cousins are thick as thieves every summer.
Other Ways to Say: Inseparable companions / Best friends
13. Joined at the hip
Meaning: Two people who spend almost all their time together and are rarely apart.
For Example: The twin sisters have been joined at the hip all school year. / My dog and I seem joined at the hip whenever I am home.
Other Ways to Say: Always together / Inseparable pair
14. Stone’s throw away
Meaning: Located a very short distance away from where you are.
For Example: The local library is just a stone’s throw away from my house. / Our primary school stands a stone’s throw away from the park.
Other Ways to Say: Very near / Short distance away
15. Within arm’s reach
Meaning: Close enough to touch or grab without having to move far.
For Example: She always keeps her water bottle within arm’s reach while studying. / The dictionary was sitting within arm’s reach on the desk.
Other Ways to Say: Close at hand / Right next to you
16. Neck and neck
Meaning: Being so equal in a race or contest that it is hard to tell who is leading.
For Example: The two runners were neck and neck as they crossed the finish line. / Both candidates remained neck and neck in the class election.
Other Ways to Say: Evenly matched / Side by side
17. Down to the wire
Meaning: A situation where the final result is unknown until the very last second.
For Example: The championship football game went right down to the wire. / Finishing our science poster came down to the wire before class.
Other Ways to Say: Last-minute result / Until the very end
18. Close, but no cigar
Meaning: Coming very near to achieving success, but ultimately failing to win.
For Example: He guessed fifty-nine marbles instead of sixty, so it was close, but no cigar. / Our team almost set the record, but it was close, but no cigar.
Other Ways to Say: Almost succeeded / Nearly got it
19. Close behind
Meaning: Following right behind someone in distance, order, or progress.
For Example: The second cyclist was riding close behind the leader. / Winter is following close behind the cool autumn days.
Other Ways to Say: Right behind / Following closely
20. Under your nose
Meaning: Located directly in front of you, even if you fail to notice it at first.
For Example: I searched for my lost glasses even though they were right under my nose. / The answer to the riddle was under your nose the whole time.
Other Ways to Say: Right in front / Plainly visible
21. Stand shoulder to shoulder
Meaning: Standing or working side by side in total unity and agreement.
For Example: The teammates stood shoulder to shoulder during the national anthem. / Volunteers worked shoulder to shoulder to clean up the park.
Other Ways to Say: Work side by side / Stand united
22. Side by side
Meaning: Next to each other in physical placement or cooperative effort.
For Example: We sat side by side on the bus ride to the museum. / The two houses stood side by side on the quiet street.
Other Ways to Say: Next to each other / Alongside
23. Walk hand in hand
Meaning: Happening together naturally or moving forward in close partnership.
For Example: Practice and success always walk hand in hand in school sports. / The young siblings walked hand in hand down the trail.
Other Ways to Say: Go together / Partner closely
24. Hair’s breadth
Meaning: A remarkably tiny fraction of distance or time.
For Example: The race car won the grand trophy by a hair’s breadth. / The runner missed setting the record by a hair’s breadth.
Other Ways to Say: Tiny margin / Smallest distance
25. Close second
Meaning: Finishing just behind the winner in a competition or ranking.
For Example: Her painting won a close second in the school art contest. / Vanilla ice cream came in a close second to chocolate.
Other Ways to Say: Runner-up / Right behind first place
26. In close proximity
Meaning: Situated very near to another object, person, or place.
For Example: The bakery and the cafe operate in close proximity to each other. / Living in close proximity to school makes walking easy.
Other Ways to Say: Near each other / Nearby location
27. On the heels of
Meaning: Following immediately after an event or another person.
For Example: Heavy rain arrived right on the heels of the loud thunder. / Our second victory came on the heels of our first win.
Other Ways to Say: Immediately after / Following closely
28. Close mouth catches no flies
Meaning: Keeping quiet prevents you from saying foolish things or getting into trouble.
For Example: My grandfather reminded me that a close mouth catches no flies. / Staying silent during the argument showed that a close mouth catches no flies.
Other Ways to Say: Silence is wise / Speak carefully
29. Keep a close eye on
Meaning: Watching someone or something very carefully and attentively.
For Example: Please keep a close eye on my backpack while I get water. / The teacher kept a close eye on the science experiment.
Other Ways to Say: Monitor carefully / Watch closely
30. Close ranks
Meaning: Uniting closely as a group to defend against criticism or outside trouble.
For Example: The club members closed ranks when their project was questioned. / The family closed ranks to support each other during hard times.
Other Ways to Say: Unite together / Join forces
31. Close up shop
Meaning: Stopping work or shutting down a business at the end of the day or permanently.
For Example: The local bakery closes up shop at six o’clock every evening. / After twenty years, the small book store decided to close up shop.
Other Ways to Say: Shut down / Stop operating
32. Keep someone close
Meaning: Staying near someone you love to protect and support them.
For Example: The mother hen kept her young chicks close during the storm. / Good friends keep each other close through life’s changes.
Other Ways to Say: Stay near / Protect closely
33. Close monitoring
Meaning: Observing a situation or person with continuous and careful attention.
For Example: The sick kitten needed close monitoring from the veterinarian. / The weather system required close monitoring by experts.
Other Ways to Say: Careful supervision / Constant observation
34. Close shave with danger
Meaning: Escaping a dangerous situation with barely any room to spare.
For Example: Slipping on the wet rocks was a close shave with danger. / Avoiding the falling branch was a real close shave with danger.
Other Ways to Say: Narrow escape / Dangerous near-miss
35. Close as pages in a book
Meaning: Sitting or standing extremely close together in an organized way.
For Example: The houses on that narrow street were as close as pages in a book. / The students lined up as close as pages in a book.
Other Ways to Say: Packed tightly / Very close together
36. Close quarters living
Meaning: Sharing a small living space where everyone stays near each other.
For Example: Camping in a small tent requires getting used to close quarters living. / Submarine crews are accustomed to close quarters living.
Other Ways to Say: Cramped living / Tight housing
37. Close match
Meaning: A game or contest where both sides have nearly equal scores or skills.
For Example: The tennis finals turned out to be a very close match. / Our chess game was a close match from start to finish.
Other Ways to Say: Even contest / Tight game
38. Close connection
Meaning: Having a strong, clear, and direct relationship or bond with someone or something.
For Example: There is a close connection between healthy eating and good energy. / She shares a close connection with her older sister.
Other Ways to Say: Strong link / Direct bond
39. Close friend
Meaning: A person you know very well, trust completely, and care about deeply.
For Example: I invited my closest friend to my birthday party on Saturday. / A close friend will always listen when you need to talk.
Other Ways to Say: Dear friend / Trusted pal
40. Close relation
Meaning: A person who is a direct member of your immediate family.
For Example: An aunt or uncle is considered a close relation in most families. / All close relations gathered at the house for the holidays.
Other Ways to Say: Family member / Relative
41. Close guard
Meaning: Watching or protecting a person or object with intense caution.
For Example: The museum kept a close guard over the famous painting. / The dog maintained a close guard over its new chew toy.
Other Ways to Say: Tight security / Careful protection
42. Close inspection
Meaning: Examining something very carefully and looking at every tiny detail.
For Example: Upon close inspection, I noticed a tiny crack in the glass vase. / The teacher gave the science poster a close inspection.
Other Ways to Say: Careful examination / Detailed look
43. Close contest
Meaning: A competition where participants perform so well that winning is uncertain.
For Example: The spelling bee was a close contest between the top two spellers. / Voting for class president resulted in a close contest.
Other Ways to Say: Tight race / Even competition
44. Close study
Meaning: Examining educational material or books with deep focus and care.
For Example: A close study of the map helped us find the hidden trail. / Understanding history requires close study of old documents.
Other Ways to Say: Careful reading / Deep examination
45. Close resemblance
Meaning: Looking or sounding almost identical to another person or thing.
For Example: My cousin bears a close resemblance to our grandfather. / The fake flower had a close resemblance to a real rose.
Other Ways to Say: Strong likeness / Similar look
46. Close cooperation
Meaning: Working together seamlessly and effectively toward a shared goal.
For Example: Building the stage required close cooperation among all students. / Successful group projects depend on close cooperation.
Other Ways to Say: Smooth teamwork / Joint effort
47. Close contact
Meaning: Being in direct touch or physical nearness with another person or group.
For Example: Doctors recommended avoiding close contact while feeling sick. / She stayed in close contact with her pen pal all year.
Other Ways to Say: Direct touch / Frequent communication
48. Close race
Meaning: A contest where runners or participants stay nearly even the whole time.
For Example: The hundred-meter sprint was a remarkably close race. / Both teams ran a close race until the final lap.
Other Ways to Say: Tight competition / Neck-and-neck race
49. Close distance
Meaning: A small physical space separating two objects or locations.
For Example: The two ships sailed past each other at a close distance. / We observed the birds from a close distance using binoculars.
Other Ways to Say: Short gap / Near distance
50. Close fit
Meaning: Fitting tightly or precisely without extra space or looseness.
For Example: The new lid was a very close fit on the storage jar. / The puzzle piece was a close fit in the last opening.
Other Ways to Say: Tight fit / Snug fit
51. Close to home hit
Meaning: Making someone realize a personal truth because an event relates to them.
For Example: Seeing the documentary made the issue hit close to home. / The lesson about kindness hit close to home for everyone.
Other Ways to Say: Touch a nerve / Relate personally
52. Close circle
Meaning: A small, exclusive group of trusted friends or family members.
For Example: She only shared her secret plans with her close circle. / He enjoys spending quiet weekends with his close circle.
Other Ways to Say: Inner group / Trusted friends
53. Close Range
Meaning: From a short distance right near the target or subject.
For Example: The photographer took a picture of the bird at close range. / Seeing the majestic lion at close range was exciting.
Other Ways to Say: Up close / Short distance
54. Close eye
Meaning: Paying direct and continuous attention to a task or person.
For Example: Keep a close eye on the stove so the soup does not boil over. / The shepherd kept a close eye on the grazing sheep.
Other Ways to Say: Careful watch / Attentive focus
55. Close bond
Meaning: A deep, strong emotional connection shared between people or pets.
For Example: The rescue dog formed a close bond with its new owner. / Sharing secrets created a close bond between the classmates.
Other Ways to Say: Strong connection / Deep relationship
56. Close to perfection
Meaning: Almost completely faultless, ideal, or without any errors.
For Example: Her gymnastics routine was carried out close to perfection. / The baker created a birthday cake that was close to perfection.
Other Ways to Say: Nearly perfect / Almost ideal
57. Close quarters combat
Meaning: Fighting or competing in an extremely limited, tight physical area.
For Example: The martial arts match felt like close quarters combat. / The video game level involved intense close quarters combat.
Other Ways to Say: Tight fighting / Nearby struggle
58. Close attention
Meaning: Focusing all your senses and mind carefully on what is happening.
For Example: Pay close attention to the safety instructions before swimming. / She listened with close attention to her teacher’s story.
Other Ways to Say: Full focus / Careful listening
59. Close second place
Meaning: Achieving second position by a tiny fraction behind the top winner.
For Example: Our school choir took a close second place at the state festival. / He earned a close second place in the chess tournament.
Other Ways to Say: Narrow second / Runner-up by a margin
60. Close knit family
Meaning: A household where members love, support, and look out for each other daily.
For Example: They are a close knit family who eats dinner together every night. / Growing up in a close knit family made her feel supported.
Other Ways to Say: Tight family / Loving household
Exercise to Practice
- Always keep a sharp pencil close at ________ during your morning lessons.
- Avoiding the falling tree branch was a real close ________ for the hikers.
- Our team managed to win the basketball championship by the skin of our ________.
- That giant thunderclap right above our house was far too close for ________.
- The local playground stands just a stone’s ________ away from my front porch.
- She keeps her favorite notebook within arm’s ________ while sitting at her desk.
- The two fast sprinters ran neck and ________ all the way to the finish line.
- Deciding the winner of the science fair came right down to the ________.
- He guessed sixty-two jellybeans instead of sixty-three, so it was close, but no ________.
- Marcus and his best friend are as thick as ________ on the playground.
- Protecting local wildlife is a caring cause that is very close to her ________.
- My cousin lives near and ________ to my heart even though she moved away.
- Please keep a close ________ on your little brother while we are at the park.
- Upon close ________, we found the tiny missing puzzle piece on the rug.
- Building the large stage required close ________ among all the students.
Answer Key
- hand
- call
- teeth
- comfort
- throw
- reach
- neck
- wire
- cigar
- thieves
- heart
- dear
- eye
- inspection
- cooperation
Conclusion
Learning idioms for close is a wonderful way to expand your vocabulary and describe distance, relationships, and competition in vivid ways. These expressive phrases make your writing, reading comprehension, and everyday speech far more interesting and dynamic.
Try incorporating a few of these idioms into your next school essay or conversation with friends. Using these fun expressions in real life will boost your confidence and help your English skills shine!
