close-shut
1close/shut your eyes to — to refuse to notice or accept the truth or existence of (something) : to ignore (something) Our legislators have closed their eyes to the poverty that surrounds them. • • • Main Entry: ↑eye …
2close, shut — These words mean to cause something not to be open, to stop or obstruct. Close is somewhat more refined and less blunt than shut. For instance, you might tactfully suggest to a child that he close his mouth while chewing but would say Shut your… …
3close — vb 1 Close, shut are very close synonyms in the sense of to stop or fill in an opening by means of a closure (as a door, a gate, a lid, or a cover) and are often used interchangeably. However, they may have distinctive nuances of meaning and… …
4close — close, closely The adjective close merges into an adverb in uses such as come close, lie close, run close, stick close, etc., especially in figurative uses: • Opera and large gatherings ran each other close for first place among her dislikes J.… …
5shut — close, shut verbs. Close has a greater implication of formality and politeness than does shut, which often sounds merely peremptory. Close the door suggests an invitation and can have undertones of intimacy, whereas Shut the door is a more… …
6close your eyes to something — close/shut (your) eyes to (something) to pretend that something bad does not exist because you do not want to deal with it. She was besotted with him and closed her eyes to his character defects. You can t just shut your eyes to your problems and …
7close your eyes to — close/shut (your) eyes to (something) to pretend that something bad does not exist because you do not want to deal with it. She was besotted with him and closed her eyes to his character defects. You can t just shut your eyes to your problems and …
8close eyes to something — close/shut (your) eyes to (something) to pretend that something bad does not exist because you do not want to deal with it. She was besotted with him and closed her eyes to his character defects. You can t just shut your eyes to your problems and …
9close eyes to — close/shut (your) eyes to (something) to pretend that something bad does not exist because you do not want to deal with it. She was besotted with him and closed her eyes to his character defects. You can t just shut your eyes to your problems and …
10shut the door on something — close/shut the ˈdoor on sth idiom to make it unlikely that sth will happen • She was careful not to close the door on the possibility of further talks. Main entry: ↑dooridiom …
