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Glite Dictionary
close-quarter fighting

close-quarter fighting

1 7.5
Fighting that happens at very short distance between people, often hand-to-hand
  • noun
  • /kloʊs ˈkwɔrtər ˈfaɪtɪŋ/
: combate cuerpo a cuerpo
  • CQC, in theory, is a good idea; having a series of schemes for close-quarters fighting is a good idea.

The Prussian Captain VOR tried out new small group techniques with flamethrowers, and the close quarter fighting was proving grounds for his ideas for storm troops.

Examples

  • Beltar was no lover of close-quarters fighting, fair or unfair, but he wasn't entirely unskilled at it.

    Blog text (23)

  • The King's forces were stuck in a stalemate here as well as brutal close quarters fighting was taking place on Round Hill.

  • We're going to do some close quarters fighting, again, some forces.

  • The hard cases I've seen all involve children and the use of them as weapons in close-quarter fighting.

    Blog text (31)

  • The Prussian Captain VOR tried out new small group techniques with flamethrowers, and the close quarter fighting was proving grounds for his ideas for storm troops.

    The Great War

  • Many of their military strategists had noted the close-quarters fighting that had taken place during the Russo-Japanese War, and the importance jujutsu training among the Japanese troops had played.

    Blog text (9)

  • The soldiers engaged in close-quarter fighting to secure control of the building.

  • In close-quarter fighting, quick reflexes and skill can determine the outcome of the battle.

  • During the raid, they encountered heavy close-quarter fighting in the narrow streets.

Synonyms

infighting
vsclose-quarter fighting
  • Jargon
1 6.7

Fighting at a very short distance where boxers hit with close punches

applies across situations, not only sports or boxing bouts
hand-to-hand struggle
vsclose-quarter fighting
5.9

A close fight between people without weapons

is the general term for combat at very short range

Antonyms

long-distance
38 3.4

That goes over a large distance for travel, sport, or relationships

How Close

grappling
1 4.8
close-quarter fighting
1 7.5

Surface Forms

close-quarter fighting singular
close-quarter fightings plural

Morphology

close-quarter + fighting

The meaning 'fighting at very short range' is directly derivable from the constituents: 'close' (near), 'quarter(s)' (confined space or room), and 'fighting' (combat). This compositional pattern (combat occurring in close quarters) is straightforward and parallels expressions in many languages, so a B1 learner who knows the parts will readily infer the MWE meaning.

Etymology

Close-quarter fighting comes from soldiers' language and paints a picture of fighting inside very small rooms or spaces. A 'quarter' is a room and close shows how near the fighters are, so the phrase means 'hand-to-hand combat'.