at close quarters

1. Crowded, in a confined space, as in We could use a lot more room; this tiny office puts us at close quarters. This idiom makes figurative use of quarters in the sense of “military lodgings” but originated in 18th-century naval warfare. When the enemy boarded a ship, the crew would retreat behind wooden barriers erected for this purpose and would continue to fire through loopholes. They thus were very near the enemy, fighting in close quarters. [c. 1800]

Example Sentences

Ask any family: There is more relish in fighting at close quarters.

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During this year's Women's Premier League, where she led Mumbai to the title, I was fortunate to watch her at close quarters.

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And watching Guardiola at close quarters at Vitality Stadium as City came from behind to win 2-1 made a mockery of Guardiola's own assertion that not even winning the FA Cup could make up for failing to make a dent in the Premier League and Champions League.

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The trial has offered a rare chance for the French public to see the once-revered actor - star of films like Green Card and Cyrano de Bergerac - at close quarters.

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With the weather causing havoc, it was a day for the purists as Saints had to show their steel at close quarters.

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Related Words

• adjacent 
• adjoining 
• immediate 
• nearby 
• neighboring 
• warm