close, shut

close, 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 mouth" or "Shut up" if you were angry, rude, or annoyed. Signs on public structures are more likely to read "This building is closed on Sunday" than "This building is shut on Sunday." Shut, however, derived from an Old English word related to bolt and shoot, is vigorous and emphatic and should be used when you really mean that something should be barred, bolted, or blocked.

Dictionary of problem words and expressions. . 1975.

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  • close/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 …   Useful english dictionary

  • close — 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… …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • close — 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.… …   Modern English usage

  • shut — 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… …   Modern English usage

  • close 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 …   New idioms dictionary

  • close 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 …   New idioms dictionary

  • close 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 …   New idioms dictionary

  • close 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 …   New idioms dictionary

  • shut 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 …   Useful english dictionary

  • close your eyes to something — phrase to ignore something bad that is happening when you should be doing something to stop it The government cannot close its eyes to this disease. Thesaurus: to pretend something is not happening or is not the casesynonym to ignore something,… …   Useful english dictionary

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