close quarters
Americannoun
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a small, cramped place or position.
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direct and close contact in a fight.
They met at close quarters, exchanging many quick jabs.
plural noun
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a narrow cramped space or position
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engaged in hand-to-hand combat
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in close proximity; very near together
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Etymology
Origin of close quarters
First recorded in 1745–55
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
They mix in large numbers at close quarters, while sharing kitchens and accommodation.
From BBC ● Jun. 12, 2026
They may have then spread Andes virus to others through breathing shared air or other close contact in close quarters.
From Salon ● May 9, 2026
Mpox is unlikely to spread through casual contact, or in close quarters like on a plane or in an office or store, state health officials say.
From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 18, 2026
McKenzie also has to provide emotional support to the team when issues like isolation and interpersonal conflict in close quarters get too much.
From BBC ● Feb. 22, 2026
In close quarters he suffered their backwoods lubricity and knucklehead talk.
From "Middlesex: A Novel" by Jeffrey Eugenides
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
