a close acquaintance

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a close acquaintance" is grammatically correct and commonly used in written English.
It refers to someone with whom one is familiar and has a personal relationship with, but may not necessarily consider them a close friend. Example: "John and Sarah have been colleagues for many years, but they have developed a close acquaintance through their shared interests outside of work."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

20 human-written examples

The glaziers, however, were probably English with a close acquaintance with French models.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Nick Townsend tells the story with panache, helped by a close acquaintance with the Irish mastermind of the scheme, Barney Curley, a name which bookmakers have had reason to curse on several occasions.

Independent

But Lloyd Grief, a close acquaintance of the family and president of Grief & Company of Los Angeles, the investment bank that took L.A. Gear public in 1986, said, "I think he was stunned with his stock's original reception".

The New York Times

Professor McIntyre liked to engage fellow patrons on the subject of race, according to one regular customer, Daniel Morgan, who considers himself a close acquaintance of both Professor McIntyre and Ms. Davis.

The New York Times

Here again was a parade of lovable prostitutes and mixed nuts, including an old man who exercised by singing opera in the lobby and an old woman who had a close acquaintance with ghosts.

The New York Times

According to the complaint, a "close acquaintance" of Ciccolo's told federal officials Ciccolo had a history of mental illness and had become "obsessed" with Islam in the last 18 months.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

39 human-written examples

I was friends with over 300 people, 200 of these 'friends' were not even people I would consider beyond a close acquaintances.

Huffington Post

It was already to some degree familiar to them from the work of the western Greeks in Italy and Sicily, and the Romans formed a closer acquaintance with it in the court of Alexandria and from the profits of their diplomacy and warfare.

Encyclopedia Britannica

It is part of the festival experience, it seems, to stand freezing and flummoxed on a platform at Newport, to sit on motorways clogged with football fans aiming for Cardiff, or to make a closer acquaintance with country hedgerows than you intended to.

The Guardian - Books

Trusting someone who has your best interests in mind, like a close friend or acquaintance, or even someone that is slightly more removed but in your network, is much more compelling, he adds.

BBC

The percentage of Americans who have a close friend or acquaintance who is Sikh, while just 31percentt have seen or interacted with a Sikh person at all.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using "a close acquaintance" when describing a close friend; use "close friend" instead to accurately reflect a stronger emotional bond.

Common error

Don't mistake a long-term colleague or a familiar face for "a close acquaintance" if there isn't a personal connection or shared experiences outside of the primary interaction context.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a close acquaintance" functions as a noun phrase, typically used as a subject, object, or complement within a sentence. It identifies a person known to the speaker, implying a degree of familiarity and relationship beyond a casual meeting. Ludwig AI, analyzing numerous examples, confirms this usage across diverse contexts.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

38%

Science

30%

Encyclopedias

10%

Less common in

Wiki

10%

Formal & Business

6%

Reference

6%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a close acquaintance" is a grammatically correct and commonly used phrase that describes a relationship with someone known personally, but not as intimately as a close friend. Ludwig AI indicates that it is suitable across diverse contexts, especially in news, science, encyclopedias and general discussions. When using this phrase, it's important to accurately reflect the nature of the relationship, avoiding exaggeration or understatement. While alternatives exist, "a close acquaintance" provides a clear and neutral way to describe this level of connection.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a good friend

Indicates a stronger bond than a mere acquaintance.

an intimate associate

Suggests a deeper, more personal connection within an association.

a familiar colleague

Highlights a professional relationship with some level of personal knowledge.

a near confidant

Implies a relationship where trust and personal secrets are shared.

a trusted peer

Emphasizes trust and equality among individuals in the same group.

a frequent companion

Highlights shared experiences and time spent together.

a regular contact

Focuses on frequent interactions without necessarily implying a strong personal bond.

a known associate

Simple emphasizes the familiarity between two persons without deepening on their affective bond.

a friendly neighbor

Implies a positive relationship built on proximity.

a cordial partner

Highlights respectful and pleasant interactions, especially in business or formal settings.

FAQs

How can I use "a close acquaintance" in a sentence?

You can use "a close acquaintance" to describe someone you know fairly well but are not necessarily very close to, for example: "I heard the news from a close acquaintance who works at the company."

What's the difference between "a close acquaintance" and "a close friend"?

While both describe a personal connection, "a close friend" implies a stronger emotional bond and a deeper level of trust and intimacy than "a close acquaintance". You might share personal details with "a close friend" that you wouldn't with an acquaintance.

What are some alternatives to "a close acquaintance"?

Depending on the context, alternatives could include "a good friend", "a familiar colleague", or "an intimate associate".

Is it appropriate to describe a family member as "a close acquaintance"?

Generally, no. Family members are typically described using terms like "relative", "family member", or by their specific relationship (e.g., "mother", "brother"). Using "a close acquaintance" might suggest a distant or strained relationship.