at the close of play

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "at the close of play" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used in a business or sports context to refer to the end of a particular period or activity, often to summarize results or outcomes. Example: "At the close of play, we had achieved our sales targets for the quarter."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

45 human-written examples

But at the close of play Sunday, their record ranked sixth.

The New York Times

Take a look at this picture, taken at the close of play yesterday: OBO milk, end of day one.

The Guardian - Sport

At the close of play Dala was happy to twist the knife ready for the Test series.

The Guardian - Sport

An exception was Pennon, which lost its coveted FTSE 100 place at the close of play, and fell 2p to 634p.

The Guardian - Business

"We are not playing for self, we are playing for country," said Yousuf, who also branded Butt "lazy", at the close of play.

The Guardian - Sport

Unconditional dealings in Glencore shares begin tomorrow, and it is due to join the FTSE 100 at the close of play, replacing Invensys, down 7.4p at 295.2p.

The Guardian - Business

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

15 human-written examples

Warner, who cracked his first Ashes century when Australia piled on the runs in their second innings of the first Test on Saturday, played even more shots at the close-of-play press conference, saying that England had "scared eyes" when facing Johnson, and describing Trott's dismissal as "pretty poor and pretty weak".

The Guardian - Sport

The rise in the banks and a positive opening on Wall Street helped the FTSE 100 start the week on a reasonably bright note after last week's falls, up 53.02 points at 4294.03 by the close of play.

The Guardian - Business

Collins hit his first stroke at around 3.30 pm By the close of play at 6 pm, he had scored 200 runs, having been dropped on 50, 100 and 140.

Wikipedia

The official announcement was made Friday, before the close of play at the Wyndham Championship.

The New York Times - Sports

Botham's innings ended before the close of play, at 134 - off 147 balls, with eight fours and ten sixes.

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "at the close of play", ensure the context clearly indicates the specific activity or event that is concluding. For example, specify "at the close of play in the second test match."

Common error

Avoid using "at the close of play" in contexts where a more general expression like "at the end of the day" would be more appropriate, especially outside of sports or business settings. Using it incorrectly can sound unnatural or forced.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "at the close of play" functions as a prepositional phrase, typically modifying a verb or noun to indicate the timing of an event or state. Ludwig shows this phrase is frequently used to denote the end of a game or business day.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

55%

Wiki

25%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Academia

5%

Science

3%

Encyclopedias

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "at the close of play" is a prepositional phrase commonly used to indicate the conclusion of a specific event or period, particularly in sports and business contexts. Ludwig shows it is grammatically correct and frequently found in news media and formal communications. While versatile, it's important to ensure its usage aligns with the intended context to avoid sounding out of place. Alternatives like "at the end of the day" or "when all is said and done" can be used in more general situations.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

at the end of the day

This alternative is a more general expression for the conclusion of a period, applicable in broader contexts beyond specific events.

when all is said and done

This phrase highlights the final outcome or result after all actions and considerations have been completed.

with everything now complete

Emphasizes the sense of finality and accomplishment at the end of an activity or process.

at the final reckoning

Focuses on a concluding assessment or evaluation after a series of events.

upon the completion

A more formal way to express reaching the end of a task or event.

in conclusion

Primarily used to summarize arguments or points at the end of a discussion or presentation.

ultimately

This highlights the final result or consequence, often after a long process.

as the dust settles

This idiom suggests a period of calm and clarity after a chaotic or busy time.

when the curtain falls

This phrase evokes a sense of finality, often used in contexts related to performances or significant events.

in the aftermath

This emphasizes the period following an event, often focusing on the consequences or results.

FAQs

What does "at the close of play" mean?

The phrase "at the close of play" refers to the end of a specific period of activity, especially in sports like cricket or in business contexts, indicating the conclusion of the day's or event's proceedings.

What can I say instead of "at the close of play"?

You can use alternatives like "at the end of the day", "when all is said and done", or "upon the completion" depending on the context.

Is "at the close of play" formal or informal?

The phrase "at the close of play" is generally considered neutral to slightly formal, suitable for news reports, sports commentary, and business communications, but less common in casual conversation.

How is "at the close of play" used in a sentence?

You can use "at the close of play" in a sentence like: "At the close of play, the team was leading by three goals", or "At the close of play, the company's stock price had risen significantly".