CLOSE QUARTERS ORIGIN
Friday November 12th, 2010
CLOSE QUARTERS
The phrase used to described being in close contact or very close to, usually used when describing combat of some kind, stems from the term ‘close fight’. During the 17th Century barriers were laid across the decks of ships to provide a safe haven from the enemy these were called ‘close fights’. By the middle of the following century the term had changed to ‘close quarters’ which actually meant ‘closed dwellings’. However the association with hand to hand fighting lead to ‘close quarters’ being used as it still is today.