close to home

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "close to home" is correct and can be used in written and spoken English.
It is an idiom which means something is near and relevant to someone's personal life or experience. For example: The news that the factory is closing down hit close to home, as many of my neighbors' jobs are at risk.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Too close to home.

The New York Times - Magazine

It's very close to home".

Independent

"It hits close to home".

The New York Times

Paris is close to home.

Independent

She was close to home.

The New Yorker

"It's too close to home".

The New Yorker

And it was close to home.

The New York Times - Sports

In small places, close to home".

The Economist

Close to home, Mexico felt comfortable.

The New York Times - Health

He also likes being close to home.

The New York Times - Sports

The songs hit extremely close to home.

The New York Times - Arts

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "close to home" to describe events, issues, or experiences that have a direct and personal impact on you or those around you. It is often used when discussing sensitive or emotional topics.

Common error

Avoid using "close to home" when describing physical proximity alone. The phrase implies emotional or personal relevance, not merely nearness in location. If only location is important, use phrases like "nearby" or "in the vicinity" instead.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "close to home" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying verbs by indicating that an event, situation, or issue has a direct personal impact or relevance. As Ludwig AI confirms, it implies a connection to one's personal life or experiences.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

83%

Academia

7%

Formal & Business

4%

Less common in

Science

2%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "close to home" is a very common adverbial phrase used to indicate that something is personally relevant or emotionally impactful. As Ludwig AI states, this idiom doesn't refer to physical distance, but to a deeper, more personal connection. It is grammatically correct and most frequently found in "News & Media" sources. When writing, use "close to home" to emphasize that a situation or issue has direct relevance to you or others. Be aware that it implies emotional proximity, not just physical nearness. Alternatives include "personally relevant" or "emotionally resonant". Overall, understanding the context and implications of "close to home" will help you use it effectively in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

personally relevant

This alternative shifts the focus to the personal significance of something, emphasizing its direct impact on an individual's life or feelings.

near to one's heart

This phrase emphasizes the emotional significance, highlighting that something is cherished or deeply felt.

personally affecting

This emphasizes the direct personal influence or impact something has on an individual.

strikes a chord

This idiomatic alternative emphasizes that something resonates deeply with someone's feelings or experiences.

hits hard

This alternative focuses on the impactful and often emotional effect of something.

directly impactful

This highlights the immediate and powerful effect something has on someone's life or situation.

emotionally resonant

This phrase highlights the emotional impact and depth of connection with something.

local to one's experience

This alternative emphasizes the personal familiarity and direct connection to a particular experience.

bears personal significance

This alternative emphasizes the importance and meaning something holds for an individual.

within familiar reach

This alternative suggests something is easily accessible or relatable based on personal experience.

FAQs

What does it mean when something "hits close to home"?

When something "hits "close to home"", it means the situation or topic is personally relevant, often because it evokes strong emotions or memories related to one's own experiences.

How can I use "close to home" in a sentence?

You can say, "The story of the family struggling with illness hit "close to home" because I recently went through a similar experience" or "The debate about local school funding is "close to home" for many parents in our community".

What are some alternatives to saying something is "close to home"?

You could use alternatives like "personally relevant", "emotionally resonant", or "near to one's heart" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "close to home" an idiom?

Yes, ""close to home"" is an idiom. It's a common expression that doesn't literally refer to physical proximity but rather to personal relevance or emotional impact.