close up
11
2.1
- phrasal verb
- /kloʊs ʌp/
:
de cerca
- It's when I look close up that I can see everything.
- see close up
OK, let's be honest, from afar that looks pretty good close up.
- OK, let's be honest, from afar that looks pretty good close up.
- If you've ever seen who's who's seen the shuttle close up?
Examples
-
You're the most beautiful woman I've ever seen this close up.
Fiction book (2000) -
Have you never seen 'em this close up before?
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I want to see him close up.
-
I see you all close up.
-
But you really need to see it close up, so come and enjoy the view.
-
It helps me to see things close up.
-
It was great to see some of those props from Ex Machina close up and Spock suit.
-
When I looked at the painting close up, I noticed each brushstroke clearly.
-
The photographer took amazing shots of the butterfly close up, revealing its intricate patterns.
-
You can see the details of the sculpture much better when you view it close up.
Synonyms
390
1.0
Very near in place, time, or connection
25
3.5
Very near to someone or something at a short distance
Antonyms
How Close
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning 'at or from a very short distance' is directly derivable from the spatial sense of 'close' (near) combined with 'up' as a directional/intensifying particle, so a B1 learner who knows those constituent senses will infer the MWE. This follows common English composition patterns (and parallels in other languages), making the expression immediately comprehensible and transparent.
Etymology
Close up used as an adverb comes from the simple idea of moving very near to something, like bringing your face close to read or a camera moving near a person. So it means 'very near'.