The phrase "close upon" is often spelled as two separate words, despite its colloquial use as a single unit. Its pronunciation is written in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /kləʊs əˈpɒn/, where the stress is on the second syllable of "upon." This phrase is commonly used to describe a situation where something is about to happen or someone is about to arrive, as in "The deadline is close upon us." Despite its informal usage, it is important to maintain proper spelling and grammar in written communication.
"Closet upon" refers to something or someone quickly approaching or moving closer to another object or person in space or time. This phrase can have both literal and figurative meanings.
In a literal sense, "close upon" implies nearness or proximity between entities. It may indicate a physical movement, where one object or person rapidly approaches another. For example, a predator may "close upon" its prey, signifying that it is drawing near or becoming closer in pursuit. Similarly, in a race or competition, a participant can be described as "closing upon" a rival, meaning they are catching up and getting closer to overtaking them.
In a figurative sense, "close upon" can denote a situation or event occurring imminently or approaching swiftly. It suggests that something is about to happen or develop. For instance, if a contract is set to expire soon, one might say that the deadline is "closing upon" them. Similarly, if a critical decision needs to be made, one may emphasize that the moment of choice is "closing upon" them, indicating that time is running out.
Overall, "close upon" signifies the act of nearing or approaching either physically or temporally, emphasizing the imminent nature of an occurrence or the diminishing distance between two entities.
The word "close" can be traced back to the Old French word "clos" or "clore" which means "to close" or "enclose". It ultimately comes from the Latin word "clausus" meaning "shut" or "closed".
The word "upon" has its origins in Old English, where it was written as "uppan" or "uppon". It is derived from the combination of the preposition "up" and the adverbial form of "on".
Therefore, the phrase "close upon" combines the meaning of "close" as "to shut" or "to enclose" with "upon" meaning "on" or "onwards". It suggests being physically or emotionally near or approaching something or someone.