Word: Close Down
Part of Speech: Verb (phrasal verb)
Definition: "Close down" means to stop operating or to make something stop operating. This can refer to a business, a factory, or any place that provides services or products.
Usage Instructions:
Subject: The subject can be a business, organization, or a place.
Verb Form: Use "close down" followed by the object (what is being closed) or use it in the passive form (e.g., "is closed down").
Examples:
Simple Example: "The owners decided to close down the factory."
Daily Life Example: "My business closes down every night at 8 p.m."
Advanced Usage:
You might use "close down" in discussions about economics, such as when a company is struggling financially and has to close its doors.
Example: "Due to the economic crisis, many small businesses are closing down."
Word Variants:
Close Up: This can mean to shut something tightly, like closing up a box. It can also refer to ending a business day (e.g., "Let's close up the shop for the night.").
Closure: A noun form that refers to the act of closing something permanently (e.g., "The closure of the school surprised everyone.").
Different Meanings:
Synonyms:
Shut down
Cease operations
Terminate
Stop
Related Idioms and Phrasal Verbs:
Shut up shop: This means to close a business for the day or permanently.
Call it a day: This means to stop working for the day, but it doesn’t imply permanence like "close down."
Summary:
"Close down" is used to describe the act of stopping operations of a business or place. It is important to know the context in which you use it, as it usually implies a permanent action.