"cutting close" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it to describe a situation that is nearing its deadline, or a situation in which an outcome is uncertain or could go either way. For example, "The election is cutting close, and it's impossible to tell which candidate will come out on top."
The book's refreshingly honest photographs show the scaffolding around foundations and highways cutting close to garden beds.
Always cutting close to emotional nuance, here Wagner drives her scalpel through the outer layers of desire and attraction and into the deepest dark current of erotic need.
The setting for "iBoy," in the projects and high-rises of South London, as well as its violence, meted out by marauding pubescent gangs, cannot help cutting close to the bone after this past summer's riots in England.
But the 7.5 percent annual growth of the second quarter was the ninth slowdown in the past 10 quarters and showed that the economy is cutting close to the government's growth target.
The company is cutting close to half of its staff, including its chief executive and six top managers, and trying to transform itself from a consumer electronics maker into a licensing outfit.
He uses mechanical clippers, cutting close to the skull.
Make an estimate cut (a cut not exactly on the line but a few inches off), and keep cutting closer and closer to the lines.
"Forbidden Broadway" is cutting closer to the bone.
Dip a 2 1/2-inch doughnut cutter in flour, and cutting as close together as possible, cut out doughnuts.
A curved, serrated "grapefruit" knife is very handy for cutting down close to the bottom curve of the skin from the cut edges.
If your guinea pig has darker nails, ONLY cut the tip and if your guinea pig is squeaking and pulling that means you are cutting too close.
