closing shop

Meanings

1. 1phrasefixed phraseBritish

   the act of permanently stopping a business, or a business that is doing this

   Grammar: Used as a noun phrase: the shop is closing, so we talk about its closing shop.

   Patterns

   • be closing shop
   • announce closing shop

   After thirty years on the high street, the bookshop is closing shop.

   The family blamed high rents for closing shop last month.

2. 2phrasefixed phrasefigurative

   ending an activity or organization and stopping work on it completely

   Grammar: Often used figuratively about projects, teams, or services, not just stores.

   Patterns

   • be closing shop on something
   • close shop

   The research team is closing shop after the funding ran out.

   When the last volunteer left, the charity effectively closed shop.

Common combinations

closing shop for good

The bakery is closing shop for good at the end of the year.

announce closing shop

The owners announced closing shop in a short notice on the door.

be forced into closing shop

Small cafes were forced into closing shop during the crisis.

closing shop on the project

The manager is closing shop on the project and moving to a new role.

Synonyms and how they differ

shutting up shop

Very close in meaning, but it often suggests a temporary stop at the end of the day rather than a permanent end.

going out of business

This is the more common American way to say a company is failing and stopping for good.

winding down

This means gradually reducing activity, which may happen before a full closing shop.

Opposites

Word family

close verb

to shut something, or to stop business for the day or forever

closure noun

the permanent shutting of a business, school, or road

closed adjective

not open for business or access

Commonly confused: closing shop or closing the shop?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “closing shop”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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