Quick answer: “Close to home” means affecting you personally because it relates closely to your own life.
Close to home — Describes a comment, story, or experience that affects someone personally and uncomfortably, because it relates closely to their own life or situation.
Origin & History
The phrase draws on the literal idea of something happening physically near one's home — and therefore directly relevant and hard to ignore.
By extension, a remark or event that is 'close to home' touches on personal, sensitive matters rather than something distant and abstract, and the figurative use has been common in English for well over a century. Learners who want to check other figurative expressions can consult general reference works such as the Cambridge Dictionary, which document how such idioms are used today.
Example Sentences
| Sentence | Context |
|---|---|
| The film's story about job loss felt close to home after his own redundancy. | Personal experience |
| Her joke about messy families hit a bit close to home for me. | Conversation |
| The article on burnout was close to home for many teachers reading it. | Media |
| That criticism was close to home, so he didn't say much afterward. | Feedback |
Dialogue Example
A: Why did she go quiet during the film?
B: The storyline about divorce was probably a bit close to home for her.
Common Mistakes
Mistakes to Avoid
That felt close from home.
That felt close to home. — The preposition is 'to', not 'from'.
That was close to the home.
That was close to home. — No article is used before 'home' in this idiom.
Our house is close to home, so I walk to work.
That is a literal use, not the idiom. The figurative idiom describes personal relevance, not physical distance.
Similar Idioms
Practise This Idiom
Practice English Idioms
Use these exercises to master idioms in context:
Want to understand the grammar behind this? Explore our Grammar guides.
Quick Check: Close to home
2 questions — test what you just learned.
1. What does “Close to home” mean?
2. Complete the sentence: “The film's story about job loss felt _____ after his own redundancy.”
Frequently Asked Questions
What does "close to home" mean?
"Close to home" describes a comment, story, or experience that affects someone personally and uncomfortably because it relates closely to their own life.
Where does "close to home" come from?
It draws on the literal sense of something happening physically near one's home, and therefore being directly relevant. The figurative meaning has been common for over a century.
Can you give an example of "close to home" in a sentence?
"The film's story about job loss felt close to home after his own redundancy." It describes personal, uncomfortable relevance.
Is "close to home" formal or informal?
It is neutral and can be used in both spoken and written English, including semi-formal writing and journalism.
What CEFR level is "close to home"?
This idiom is typically taught at B2 level, as learners need to distinguish the figurative meaning from the literal one.
What are common mistakes with "close to home"?
Common mistakes include changing the preposition to 'from', or adding an unnecessary article before 'home'.
What idioms are similar to "close to home"?
Similar idioms include: Hit a nerve, Strike a chord, Too close for comfort. These describe something personally affecting.
How do I practise idioms like "close to home"?
Try LexFizz's Flash Cards and Flip Tiles, and describe a book, film, or comment that felt close to home for you.
Can "close to home" be used in writing?
Yes, it is common in reviews, journalism, and personal essays discussing sensitive or relatable topics.
Does "close to home" have the same meaning in British and American English?
Yes, the figurative meaning is identical in both, and the idiom is widely recognised across major varieties of English.