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close down

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close down

 and shut down

[for someone] to close a business, office, shop, etc., permanently or temporarily. This shop will have to close down if they raise taxes. The fire department closed down all the stores on the block because of the gas leak.

See also: close, down

close someone or something down

to force someone or someone's business, office, shop, etc., to close permanently or temporarily. The health department closed the restaurant down. They closed down the same place last year, too.

See also: close, down

close down

1. Also, close one's doors; shut down. Go out of business, end operations. For example, If the rent goes up we'll have to close down, or After fifty years in business the store finally closed its doors, or The warehouse had a clearance sale the month before it shut down for good. Also see close up, def. 2.

2. Force someone to go out of business, as in The police raided the porn shop and closed it down. Both usages date from the early 1900s, but shut down was first recorded in 1877.

See also: close, down

close down

v.

1. To stop operating permanently or for an extended period of time. Used especially of businesses: After decades of serving the community, the gymnasium closed down.

2. To force someone or something, as a business, to stop operating: The cops closed down our poker game. I'd like to keep the shop running, but the recession will probably close my business down.

See also: close, down