as close as it gets

USAGE SUMMARY

"as close as it gets" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it when you want to emphasize that something is as close to perfection as it can be. For example, "This barbeque is as close as it gets to the best recipe I've ever tasted."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Yet it is as close as it gets to its supposed ambition.

The Guardian - Film

Everything is in its place, or as close as it gets in politics.

The New York Times

But he is as close as it gets.

The New York Times - Sports

However, Zenit is as close as it gets to a state-owned team in Russia.

The New York Times - Sports

That's as close as it gets to playing three road games in the tournament.

The New York Times

For some, the tandem bicycle is as close as it gets to love on a bike.

The New York Times

In academic terms, this is as close as it gets to stardom.

The Economist

But in New England, Brady has become as close as it gets to a Kennedy.

The New York Times

In the Bloomberg administration, Dr. Thomas R. Frieden is as close as it gets.

The New York Times - Food

This is as close as it gets to a free lunch.

The New York Times - Tech

It's not 100percentt, but it's as close as it gets".

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "as close as it gets" to emphasize that a result or situation is the best possible outcome given certain limitations. It's effective when acknowledging imperfections while highlighting the positive aspects.

Common error

Avoid using "as close as it gets" when something is demonstrably far from the ideal. The phrase implies a high degree of approximation, not a distant similarity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "as close as it gets" functions as an idiomatic expression, often acting as an adverbial phrase. It typically modifies a verb or adjective, indicating the highest degree of approximation or similarity achievable. Ludwig provides several examples to demonstrate its use in context.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

73%

Academia

8%

Science

5%

Less common in

Formal & Business

2%

Wiki

2%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "as close as it gets" is a versatile and frequently used idiomatic expression in English. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's grammatically correct and serves to emphasize that something is the nearest possible to an ideal or desired outcome, even if not perfect. Predominantly found in News & Media, it carries a neutral-to-informal tone, making it suitable for a wide range of writing but less so for strict formal or scientific contexts. Keep in mind its purpose to highlight proximity while acknowledging limitations, and avoid overstating the degree of approximation. Consider alternatives like "almost perfect" or "the next best thing" for nuanced expression.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

as good as it gets

Focuses on the quality being the highest attainable.

the closest one can get

Expresses the impossibility of getting any nearer to the desired outcome.

almost perfect

Highlights near-flawless quality, emphasizing a slight imperfection.

about as near as possible

Focuses on minimizing the distance, emphasizing the difficulty of further reduction.

nearly identical

Focuses on the high degree of similarity between two things.

the next best thing

Suggests a substitute that is very similar, but not the original or ideal.

virtually the same

Emphasizes near-identical similarity, focusing on equivalence rather than reaching a limit.

practically the same

Highlights functional equivalence, even if not perfectly identical.

the best approximation

Highlights that it's an estimation, though the most accurate available.

for all practical purposes

Indicates that the result is functionally equivalent to the ideal, despite any minor differences.

FAQs

How can I use "as close as it gets" in a sentence?

Use "as close as it gets" to describe something that is the nearest possible thing to an ideal or desired outcome. For example, "This replica is "as close as it gets" to the original artifact".

What phrases are similar to "as close as it gets"?

Similar phrases include "nearly identical", "almost perfect", or "the next best thing". These all suggest a high degree of similarity or approximation.

When is it appropriate to use "as close as it gets"?

It's appropriate when you want to acknowledge that something isn't perfect, but it's the best available option or the closest possible outcome. It implies a limitation or constraint that prevents achieving the ideal.

Is "as close as it gets" formal or informal?

The phrase "as close as it gets" is generally considered informal, but acceptable in many contexts. More formal alternatives might include "the nearest approximation" or "the closest possible result".