closes in
Narrows the gap
Closes in describes something drawing nearer, typically with threatening or confining effect.
Bad weather closes in, darkness closes in, pursuers close in on their quarry.
The phrase suggests gradual encroachment from multiple directions: The walls felt like they were closing in.
When investigators close in on a suspect, they're narrowing the gap before capture.
- encroachAdvance beyond proper limits
- encircleSurround on all sides
- surroundEnclose on every side
- circle the wagonsAdopt collective defense
- convergeMeet at a point
loom · dark clouds · hem in · tighten · suffocate · trap · jaws of death · narrow · besiege · zero in · bear down · approach · creep · fog · press · impending · descends · constrain
closes inretreats
Backs off or sanctuaries
backs away · withdraws · pulls back · recedes · draws back
closes indisperses
Spreads widely apart
scatters · spreads out · opens up · breaks away · fans out
close, closet, closed, closing, closer, enclose, disclose, closure, closest