close out
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Verb: 1. To terminate or conclude something, especially in a final or administrative way: This meaning refers to ending an activity, account, or process officially. 2. To sell off all remaining items to dispose of inventory: This meaning refers to the final sale of goods, often at a reduced price, to clear stock. 3. To preclude or make impossible beforehand: This meaning refers to an action that eliminates a possibility in advance.
Usage and Examples
- To terminate an account or activity:
- The store will close out its seasonal section next week.
- I need to close out my old bank account.
- To sell off remaining stock:
- The manager decided to close out last year's models with a huge discount.
- These items are on sale because we are closing them out.
- To preclude or make impossible (often used in sports or competitive contexts):
- The team's early lead closed out any chance of a comeback.
- His brilliant opening move closed out most defensive options for his opponent.
Advanced Usage
- In finance/investing: To finalize a position by selling a held security.
- The investor closed out her futures contract before the expiration date.
- In sports: To secure a victory, especially by performing decisively at the end.
- The pitcher closed out the game with three strikeouts.
Variants and Related Words
- Closeout (noun): A final sale to dispose of goods; the act of closing something out.
- All furniture is priced for quick sale during the closeout.
- Closing (noun/adjective): The act of ending something. Related but not a direct variant of the phrasal verb.
Synonyms
- Terminate: To bring to an end.
- Conclude: To bring to a close.
- Liquidate: To settle a debt or convert assets into cash.
- Sell off: To sell all or part of an asset.
- Preclude: To prevent from happening.
Phrasal Verbs
- Close out is itself a phrasal verb. Its meanings are distinct from the individual words "close" and "out."
Related Idioms
- Close the books on (something): To stop thinking about or dealing with something because it is finished. This idiom is related to the "terminate" sense of .
- It's time to close the books on that project and move forward.
Verb
- terminate
- We closed out our account
- terminate by selling off or disposing of
- He closed out his line of sports cars
- make impossible, especially beforehand