door
Movable barrier in a wall opening
A flat object that opens and closes to let people go in or out of a room or building.
to open/close [a door]
- She knocked on the front door before entering.
- Please close the door when you leave.
- The wind slammed the door shut.
- He stood at the door, waiting to be invited in.
- We installed a new glass door to the patio.
- I opened the door to go outside.
- The door is closed.
- He is standing at the door.
- Please shut the door.
- She walked through the door.
Opportunity or way to achieve something
A chance to get into a place, situation, or to do something new.
[something] is a door to [something]
- This internship could be a door to your dream career.
- Learning another language opens many doors.
- That meeting closed the door on further negotiations.
- The job was a door to a better life.
- Speaking English can open many doors.
- He closed the door on that idea.
Space in wall for passage
The space where you go through to enter a room, usually with a door in it.
- She appeared in the door with a smile.
- He stood in the door watching us work.
- They painted the door bright red.
- He is standing in the door.
- She walked through the door into the kitchen.
- I saw my friend in the door.
- Base: door
- Plural: doors
come knocking on someone's door
1Approach with request or offer
To ask someone for help, work, or something else they can give.
- They came knocking on our door for donations.
- Opportunities came knocking on her door after graduation.
lay something at someone's door
1Blame someone for something bad
To say that someone is responsible for something bad that happened.
- They laid the failure at his door.
- The problems were unfairly laid at her door.
show someone the door
1Dismiss someone from place/position
To tell someone to leave, usually because they are not wanted there.
- After his rude comment, they showed him the door.
- The manager showed the reporter the door.
at death's door
1Very close to dying
Very sick or injured and likely to die soon.
- After the accident, he was at death's door for weeks.
- She looked like she was at death's door with that flu.
at death's door
2Very close to death
Very sick or almost dying.
- He was at death's door after the accident.
- The patient was at death's door but recovered.
behind closed doors
1with no outsiders present
in a private place, with no people from outside watching or listening
- The negotiations took place behind closed doors.
- Important negotiations took place behind closed doors.
- The key decisions were made behind closed doors.
- They prefer to discuss family matters behind closed doors.
- They always argue behind closed doors.
- They like to keep their negotiations behind closed doors.
- A lot of bullying happens behind closed doors, where teachers cannot see it.
behind closed doors
2In private, secretly
In secret, where other people cannot see or know what happens.
- The deal was made behind closed doors.
- They discussed the matter behind closed doors.
behind closed doors
3In private, secretly
Happening in private, where people cannot see or know about it.
- The deal was made behind closed doors.
- They met behind closed doors to discuss the plan.