close the office

Meaning

To shut down a workplace at the end of the day, during holidays, or permanently. It refers to locking up the physical building or officially stopping business operations for a period of time.

Examples

• Who is responsible for locking the doors when we close the office at 6 PM?

  Who is responsible for locking the doors when we close the office at 6 PM?

• We decided to close the office early on Friday because of the upcoming holiday.

  We decided to close the office early on Friday because of the upcoming holiday.

• Due to the heavy snowstorm, management decided to close the office for the day.

  Due to the heavy snowstorm, management decided to close the office for the day.

• They had to close the office permanently and transition all employees to remote work.

  They had to close the office permanently and transition all employees to remote work.

• Please make sure all the lights are turned off when you close the office.

  Please make sure all the lights are turned off when you close the office.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ We shut down the office at Christmas.

  ✓ We close the office for Christmas.

  While 'shut down' can mean close, 'close the office' is the standard, neutral expression for holiday closures. 'Shut down' often implies permanent closure or emergency stops.

• ✗ I will close the office's door.

  ✓ I will close the office.

  Saying 'close the office's door' refers literally to a single door. To mean ending the business day for the whole location, use 'close the office'.

Related Expressions

Practice

• Because of the public holiday, we will ___ on Monday.

  💡 Stop operations and shut the workplace.

  Show answer

  close the office

• Don't forget to set the alarm when you ___ tonight.

  💡 Lock up the workplace at the end of the day.

  Show answer

  close the office