at close range

Idioms  

1. Very nearby, as in At close range, the rock band was unbearably loud. Derived from shooting— range denotes the distance that missile or projectile can be made to travel—this expression soon came to mean anything in close proximity.

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Example Sentences

When the team replaced the black object with a white one and added carbon dioxide, mosquitoes were able to locate the source, but only at close range.

From Science Daily • Mar. 22, 2026

In fact, the only bone I’ve ever broken is my thumb, in tenth grade, when a friend kicked a soccer ball into my hand at close range.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 27, 2026

For six tumultuous years, director Nico Ballesteros followed Ye at close range, capturing the artist’s rawest highs and lowest lows in the new documentary “In Whose Name?”

From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 12, 2025

There were also chances for energetic wing-back Kerkez, who saw a header hit the crossbar, while Kluivert failed to beat Onana at close range.

From BBC • Apr. 13, 2024

“Jane, this is sloppy work. Watch your trigger squeeze, girl. An inch isn't such a big deal at close range, but with a rifle that inch becomes several feet.”

From "Dread Nation" by Justina Ireland