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close up

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close someone up

to close a surgical wound at the end of a surgical procedure. Fred, would you close her up for me? Fred closed up the patient.

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close something up

 

1. to close someone's business, office, shop, etc., temporarily or permanently. Tom's restaurant nearly went out of business when the health department closed him up. The health department closed up the restaurant.

2. to close something that is open, such as a door or a box. Please close the door when you leave.

See also: close, up

close up

 

1. Lit. [for an opening] to close completely. The door closed up and would not open again. The wound will close up completely in a day or so.

2. Fig. [for a place of business] to close for business. The store closed up and did not open until the next day.

See also: close, up

close up

Also, close up shop. Stop doing business, temporarily or permanently; also, stop working. For example, The bank is closing up all its overseas branches, or That's enough work for one day-I'm closing up shop and going home. [Late 1500s]

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close up

v.

1. To shut something completely: The doctor closed up the cut with stitches. I closed the box up with wire and tape.

2. To become shut completely: My eye closed up because of the infection.

3. To shut and lock a building for a period of time: It's my job to close up the store for the night because I'm always the last one to leave. At the end of August, we'll close the cottage up for the winter.

See also: close, up