close-in
[
klohs
-in]
/ˈkloʊsˌɪn/
adjective
1.
near, as to a common center; adjacent, especially to a city:
The city is enveloping its close-in suburbs.
2.
occurring or provided at close quarters:
Fighter planes provided daring close-in air support.
British Dictionary definitions for
close in
close in
/
kləʊz
/
verb
(
intransitive, adverb
)
1.
(of days) to become shorter with the approach of winter
2.
foll by
on or upon.
to advance (on) so as to encircle or surround
Idioms and Phrases with
close in
close in
.
Surround, enclose, envelop, as in
The fog closed in and we couldn't see two yards in front of us
, or
She felt the room was closing in
.
[
c. 1400
]
.
Also,
close in on or upon
. Draw in, approach, as in
The police closed in on the suspect
.
[
Early 1800s
]