The phrase "come a close" is often used to indicate the end or conclusion of something. Its spelling is a bit unusual, with the "a" appearing between "come" and "close." This is because the phrase is actually a contraction of "come to a close." In phonetic transcription, it would be pronounced /kʌm ə kləʊz/, with the "a" sound in the middle, followed by the "k" sound of "close." This is a common feature of English contractions, where two words combine and are shortened for convenience.
"Come a close" is a phrase used to indicate a near or imminent outcome, particularly when depicting a tight competition or a narrow margin in a race, contest, or comparison. This colloquial expression typically denotes a situation where two or more participants are closely matching each other in terms of performance, achievement, or progress, resulting in a highly competitive scenario where the outcome is uncertain until the very end.
Referred to as "coming a close" because it symbolizes being near or approaching the end, this phrase is often employed to describe situations where someone or something has nearly achieved victory or success but fell just short or narrowly missed it. It usually implies that the outcome was highly anticipated and closely watched, creating tension and excitement among the involved parties or spectators.
For instance, in a sports context, if two athletes are competing neck and neck throughout a race and one wins by the slimmest of margins, it can be said that they "came a close." Similarly, in a business context, if two companies are bidding for a contract and one is ultimately chosen by a very narrow margin, it can be said that the decision "came a close."
Overall, the expression "come a close" highlights the intensity and uncertainty associated with an outcome that is closely contested or narrowly decided, where a small difference in performance or result could have greatly altered the final outcome.