Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

too close for comfort

Word Rarity Uncommon

Frequency: Zipf frequency 4.35 in modern English

Syllables: too -close -for -com-fort
IPA

30

Scrabble Score

18

Letters

5

Syllables

9

Unique Chars

Meaning

adj

Near enough to cause discomfort.

adj

Near enough to be dangerous.

adj

So similar or applicable to one's situation that it causes distress.

adj

Frightening because of almost resulting in injury or disaster.

Example Sentences

"Even the neighbouring country was too close for comfort. The episode was acutely embarrassing for Victor, who returned to England boiling with silent rage."
"He repeated the action with her other foot, and when he stood, he was much too close for comfort."
"The lipstick pressed down on my mouth like an unwanted kiss. I froze, willing it to be over. She smiled at her handiwork, our faces far too close for comfort."
"Our house at Cavenagh Road had been boarded up and abandoned when the Japanese artillery shells started falling too close for comfort."
"In this morning's water conditions, Yuan class submarines would become detectable on the spherical array at eight thousand yards. Sierra five-seven was approaching too close for comfort."
"From the viewpoint of our bomb shelter, we observed the Battle of Britain and all that was going on above us at the time, diving for the protection of the dugout when things happened too quickly or were too close for comfort."

Questions

What does too close for comfort mean?: Near enough to cause discomfort.

How to pronounce too close for comfort

Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “too close for comfort”.
Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling () so you know which sounds to aim for.
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