close in on

se rapprocher de, resserrer l’étau autour de

Se rapprocher d’une personne qu’on poursuit, surtout quand on est sur le point de l’attraper.

En anglais simple : To get nearer to someone you are chasing, especially when you are about to catch them.

• The police closed in on the thief.
• The wolves were closing in on their prey.
• Are the officers closing in on the escaped prisoner?

Comment l'utiliser : close in on someone/something (The police were closing in on the thieves.)

Synonymes : catch up with, approach

Contraires : fall behind

Expressions courantes : close in on someone, close in on suspects

se rapprocher de, approcher de

Se rapprocher du moment où l’on atteint un objectif ou termine quelque chose.

En anglais simple : To get nearer to reaching a goal or finishing something.

• We are closing in on our goal.
• The runners closed in on the finish line.
• The company is closing in on a deal.

Comment l'utiliser : close in on something (The team is closing in on its first championship.)

Synonymes : approach, near

Expressions courantes : close in on victory, close in on completion

se refermer sur

Se rapprocher de tous côtés d’une personne ou d’une chose, en réduisant l’espace et en donnant l’impression de l’enfermer.

En anglais simple : To move inward around someone or something, leaving less space and making them feel trapped.

• The walls seemed to close in on me.
• Darkness was closing in on the little house.
• She felt the room closing in on her.

Comment l'utiliser : close in on someone/something (The walls seemed to close in on us.)

Synonymes : press in on, enclose

Expressions courantes : close in on someone, close in on me