close in

迫る、追い詰める

捕まえようとしている相手に近づく。

やさしい英語で： 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?

使い方： close in on someone/something (The police were closing in on the suspect.)

類義語： approach, gain on

反対語： retreat

よく使う表現： close in on someone, close in slowly

周囲から迫る、取り囲む

周りから近づき、人や物の周囲の空間を狭めていく。

やさしい英語で： 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.

使い方： 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.)

類義語： surround, encroach

反対語： recede

よく使う表現： close in around someone, close in on something

囲い込む

壁などの障害物で周りを囲み、中に閉じ込める。

やさしい英語で： 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.

使い方： close something in (They closed the porch in with glass panels.)

類義語： enclose, box in

よく使う表現： close something in, close in something