close in on
Surround and advance
To close in on something is to approach it from multiple directions, gradually reducing the distance or narrowing the options.
Predators close in on prey; police close in on a suspect; deadline pressure closes in on procrastinators.
The phrase suggests surrounding movement and inevitable convergence: The search party was closing in on the missing hikers' last known location.
advance
Move or progress forward
tail · chase · stalk · shadow · hunt · trail · follow · zero in · gain · overtake
encircle
Surround on all sides
- surroundEnclose on every side
- envelopSurround and cover fully
- cordonEncircling line restricting access
trap · hem in · ring · box in · flank · seal off · blockade · encompass · ambush · pincer