close in

avvicinarsi, stringere il cerchio

Avvicinarsi a qualcuno che si sta cercando di catturare.

In inglese semplice: To move nearer to someone you are trying to catch.

• The police are closing in.
• Hunters closed in on the injured animal.
• Can the thieves escape before the officers close in on them?

Come si usa: close in on someone/something (The police were closing in on the suspect.)

Sinonimi: approach, gain on

Contrari: retreat

Espressioni comuni: close in on someone, close in slowly

stringersi intorno, avvolgere

Avvicinarsi da ogni lato a qualcuno o qualcosa, riducendo lo spazio libero intorno.

In inglese semplice: To move nearer from around someone or something, leaving less open space.

• The fog was closing in.
• Trees closed in around the narrow path.
• The walls seemed to close in on him in the tiny room.

Come si usa: close in around someone/something (The crowd closed in around the performers.); close in on someone/something (The walls seemed to close in on her.)

Sinonimi: surround, encroach

Contrari: recede

Espressioni comuni: close in around someone, close in on something

chiudere, recintare

Circondare uno spazio o un oggetto con muri o altre barriere, chiudendolo all’interno.

In inglese semplice: To surround something with walls or another barrier, shutting it inside.

• They closed the porch in.
• New walls closed in the small courtyard.
• We could close in this space to make another room.

Come si usa: close something in (They closed the porch in with glass panels.)

Sinonimi: enclose, box in

Espressioni comuni: close something in, close in something