What Does “Close sth down” Mean?
“Close sth down” means to stop a business, service, or activity completely, often by shutting its doors or operations.
Introduction
The phrasal verb “close sth down” is commonly used in English to describe the action of ending or stopping a business, company, shop, or any organized operation. When you “close something down,” it means you permanently or temporarily shut it, making it no longer active or open. This phrase is useful in many daily situations, especially when discussing companies, stores, or factories that stop working. Understanding the “close sth down meaning” helps learners communicate clearly about business closures or interruptions in services.
Quick Info Box
- Phrasal verb: close something down
- Type: transitive
- Level: B1
- Short meaning: to stop the operation of something completely
Structure (Grammar Rules)
“Close sth down” is a separable phrasal verb. This means you can place the object (something) between “close” and “down,” or after “down.”
- close something down (correct) – e.g., The company closed the factory down.
- close down something (also correct) – e.g., The company closed down the factory.
Both forms are acceptable, but placing the object between the verb and particle is more common.
How to Use “Close sth down”?
Use “close sth down” when talking about ending the operation of a business, service, or event. It often refers to permanent closure but can also mean temporary shutdowns. This phrase is mostly used in formal and informal contexts related to commerce, government actions, or even events.
Examples of contexts include:
- A shop closing due to low sales
- A government shutting down an illegal operation
- A factory stopping production
Examples
- The city decided to close the nightclub down because of noise complaints.
- After many losses, the company had to close the factory down.
- The government closed down the website for violating the rules.
- Many small stores are closing down during the economic crisis.
- They closed down the event early due to bad weather.
Common Mistakes
- Incorrect: The company closed down the.
- Correct: The company closed the factory down.
- Incorrect: We close down always the shop on Sundays.
- Correct: We always close the shop down on Sundays.
Remember to include the object (something) when using this phrasal verb.
Differences / Synonyms
Similar phrasal verbs include “shut down” and “shut sth down.” Both mean to stop operations but “shut down” is more common in technical or official contexts, like machines or computers.
Example: They shut down the computer for maintenance.
They closed the factory down last year.
“Close down” is often used for businesses or services, while “shut down” can apply to machines or systems.
Common Collocations
- close a business down
- close a factory down
- close a shop down
- close a company down
- close a website down
- close a school down
Related Phrasal Verbs
Here are related phrasal verbs of close sth down:
Real-life Dialogue
Anna: Did you hear about the bookstore? They’re closing it down next month.
Ben: Really? That’s sad. It was my favorite place to buy books.
Anna: Yeah, the owner said sales were too low, so they have to close it down.
Ben: I guess I should visit before it’s all closed.
Practice
Fill in the blank with the correct form of “close sth down”:
- The local cafe _______ last week because of the new mall.
- a) closed down
- b) closed
- c) close down
- The government _______ the illegal site yesterday.
- a) close down
- b) closed down
- c) closes down
- They are planning to _______ the factory by the end of the year.
- a) close down
- b) close
- c) closing down
FAQs
- Q: Can “close sth down” be used for temporary closures?
A: Yes, but it usually means a permanent closure. - Q: Is “close sth down” separable?
A: Yes, you can put the object between “close” and “down.” - Q: What’s the difference between “close down” and “shut down”?
A: “Close down” is mostly for businesses, “shut down” can be for machines or services. - Q: Can I say “close down the shop”?
A: Yes, that is correct. - Q: Is “close sth down” formal or informal?
A: It can be used in both formal and informal contexts.
