close opportunities

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "close opportunities" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in contexts where you are referring to the act of finalizing or shutting down potential chances or prospects, often in a business or personal development setting. Example: "In order to focus on our core business, we have decided to close opportunities that do not align with our strategic goals."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

Any time there is a need to interpret federal law, [Kemp] always interprets federal law to close opportunities for Georgians to be able to exercise the right to vote".

Huffington Post

In addition this framework highlights the importance of events- occurrences such as a change of government or a public health emergency that may influence opinions and attitudes and may also open and close opportunities for change.

Health Research Policy and Systems

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

Wearing his trademark Sunday red shirt, Woods played solidly for the next eight holes, lining up mid-range birdie putts on each green while squandering his only close opportunity from six feet at the second.

Independent

The project recognizes schools for creating inputs that help close opportunity gaps, demonstrating an extraordinary commitment to equity and excellence by giving all students the opportunity to succeed.

Huffington Post

The industry has vigorously defended itself, noting that the expansion of the market has opened up previously closed opportunities.

The New York Times

On offense, Sanders, like Chandler, had to end his love affair with low-percentage shots 16 to 23 feet from the basket and focus on closer opportunities.

The New York Times - Sports

Gordon wants to pursue closing opportunities and will not get that chance with the Yankees as long as Mariano Rivera is around.

The New York Times

Those stocks quickly shot up three to five times over in the last 12 months, quickly closing opportunities to earn serious returns in those equities.

Forbes

This is the closest opportunity we have had.

The Guardian - Sport

It's a company's closing opportunity to extract potentially useful information from someone who has quit or has been dismissed.

The New York Times

Chelsea's closest opportunity to take the lead came in the 77th minute when a Drogba shot struck the post from 25 yards out.

Wikipedia

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

To maintain a clear and professional tone, reserve "close opportunities" for situations where opportunities are actively being ended, not simply unfulfilled.

Common error

Avoid using "close opportunities" when you mean "missed opportunities". "Close opportunities" implies active termination, while "missed opportunities" refers to chances that were not taken advantage of. For example, do not say "They close opportunities to invest" when you actually mean "They missed opportunities to invest".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "close opportunities" functions as a verb phrase followed by a noun, indicating the act of limiting or ending chances or prospects. This phrase describes an action taken to restrict possibilities, as evidenced in the Ludwig examples, where it illustrates how actions or regulations can limit avenues for progress or success. According to Ludwig, the phrase is grammatically correct.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

50%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "close opportunities" is used to describe the act of restricting or ending potential chances or prospects. While grammatically correct, according to Ludwig, its usage is relatively rare, predominantly appearing in news and scientific contexts. When writing, consider whether you intend to convey a sense of finality or a more gradual reduction, and choose alternatives like "limit opportunities" or "restrict opportunities" accordingly. Be mindful of distinguishing between actively terminating chances (closing) and failing to capitalize on them (missing). Overall, while understood in English, its occurence remains relatively low, suggesting that alternative phrasings are generally preferrable.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

end opportunities

A more direct and concise way to express the termination of possibilities.

shut down opportunities

Suggests a forceful or abrupt ending of the possibilities.

limit opportunities

Focuses on reducing the number of available chances, rather than completely ending them.

restrict opportunities

Similar to 'limit', but implies a more controlled reduction in possibilities.

foreclose opportunities

A more formal way of saying "close opportunities", suggesting that some action prevents the opportunities.

curtail opportunities

Suggests a reduction in the scope or extent of available chances.

eliminate opportunities

Implies complete removal of possibilities, with a stronger sense of finality.

halt opportunities

Emphasizes a sudden stop to the possibilities.

block opportunities

Implies preventing the emergence or continuation of chances.

obstruct opportunities

Focuses on creating obstacles that prevent the realization of possibilities.

FAQs

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

You can use "close opportunities" to describe actions that limit or terminate possibilities. For example: "The new regulations will "close opportunities" for small businesses".

What can I say instead of "close opportunities"?

Alternatives to "close opportunities" include "limit opportunities", "restrict opportunities", or "eliminate opportunities", depending on the context.

Is it better to say "close off opportunities" or "close opportunities"?

Both phrases are grammatically correct, but "close off opportunities" often suggests a more definitive and forceful action than simply ""close opportunities"".

How is "close opportunities" different from "missed opportunities"?

"Close opportunities" indicates a deliberate action to end possibilities, while "missed opportunities" refers to chances that were not utilized or taken advantage of.