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[close the door] or [bar the door] or [shut the door] {v. phr.} To prevent any more action or talk about a subject. •/The President’s veto closed the door to any new attempt to pass the bill./ •/Joan was much hurt by what Mary said, and she closed the door on Mary’s attempt to apologize./ •/After John makes up his mind, he closes the door to any more arguments./ Contrast: OPEN THE DOOR.

[close to home]{adv. phr.} Too near to someone’s personal feelings, wishes, or interests. •/When John made fun of Bob’s way of walking, he struck close to home./ •/When the preacher spoke about prejudice, some people felt he had come too close to home./

[close-up]{n.} A photograph, motion picture, or video camera shot taken at very close range. •/Directors of movies frequently show close-ups of the main characters./

[close up shop]{v. phr.} 1. To shut a store at the end of a day’s business, also, to end a business. •/The grocer closes up shop at 5 o’clock./ •/After 15 years in business at the same spot, the garage closed up shop./ 2. {informal} To stop some activity; finish what you are doing. •/After camping out for two weeks, the scouts took down their tents and closed up shop./ •/The committee finished its business and closed up shop./ Compare: CALL IT A DAY.

[clothes] See: BEST BIB AND TUCKER or SUNDAY-GO-TO-MEETING CLOTHES.

[clothing] See: WOLF IN SHEEP’S CLOTHING.

[cloud] See: EVERY CLOUD HAS A SILVER LINING, IN THE CLOUDS, ON CLOUD NINE, UNDER A CLOUD.

[clover] See: FOUR-LEAF CLOVER, IN CLOVER or IN THE CLOVER.

[club] See: CHRISTMAS CLUB.

[cluck and grunt]{n.}, {slang}, {avoid it in restaurants} The familiar restaurant dish of ham and eggs; since ham is made of pork (and pigs grunt) and eggs come from hens (which cluck.) •/"I am sorry I can’t fix you an elaborate meal, but I can give you a quick cluck and grunt."/

[clutch] See: RIDE THE BRAKE.

[coal] See: CARRY COALS TO NEWCASTLE, HAUL OVER THE COALS or RAKE OVER THE COALS, HEAP COALS OF FIRE ON ONE’S HEAD.

[coast is clear] No enemy or danger is in sight; there is no one to see you. •/When the teacher had disappeared around the corner, John said, "Come on, the coast is clear."/ •/The men knew when the night watchman would pass. When he had gone, and the coast was clear, they robbed the safe./ •/When Father stopped the car at the stop sign, Mother said, "The coast is clear on this side."/

[coat tail] See: ON ONE’S COAT TAILS.

[cock] See: GO OFF HALF-COCKED also GO OFF AT HALF COCK.

[cock-and-bull story]{n. phr.} An exaggerated or unbelievable story. •/"Stop feeding me such cock-and-bull stories," the detective said to the suspect./

[cockeyed]{adj.} Drunk; intoxicated. •/Frank has been drinking all day and, when we met, he was so cockeyed he forgot his own address./

[cocksure]{adj.} Overconfident; very sure. •/Paul was cocksure that it wasn 't going to snow, but it snowed so much that we had to dig our way out of the house./

[C.O.D.]{n. phr.} Abbreviation of "cash on delivery." •/If you want to receive a piece of merchandise by mail and pay when you receive it, you place a C.O.D. order./