close to home
Affecting you personally
Littéralement: Physically near to the place where you live
Use this to describe topics that affect you personally because they mirror your own life experiences.
En 15 secondes
- Something that feels very personal or relatable to your life.
- Often used when a topic triggers a strong emotional reaction.
- Commonly paired with the verb 'hit' to show impact.
Signification
This phrase describes something that affects you deeply because it relates to your own life or experiences. It feels personal and sometimes a bit uncomfortable because it is so relatable.
Exemples clés
3 sur 6Watching a movie about family struggles
That scene where the father loses his job really hit close to home.
That scene where the father loses his job was very relatable to my life.
Discussing office layoffs in a meeting
The news about the budget cuts hit a bit too close to home for our team.
The news about budget cuts affected our team personally.
A comedian making a joke about being broke
Ouch, that joke about empty bank accounts hit way too close to home!
That joke was funny but also painfully true for my situation.
Contexte culturel
The phrase draws on the concept of 'home' as the most sacred and private space in Western culture. It evolved from 19th-century literal descriptions of physical proximity to a metaphorical expression of emotional vulnerability. It is frequently used in psychological contexts or media reviews to describe deeply relatable content.
The 'Too' Factor
If you add `too` (e.g., 'too close to home'), it often implies the topic is painful or you'd rather not talk about it.
Not for Locations
Avoid using this to mean 'near my house' in a literal sense. Use 'nearby' or 'just around the corner' instead.
En 15 secondes
- Something that feels very personal or relatable to your life.
- Often used when a topic triggers a strong emotional reaction.
- Commonly paired with the verb 'hit' to show impact.
What It Means
When you say something hits close to home, you are talking about emotions. It means a topic or situation is very personal to you. It is not about physical distance. It is about emotional distance. If a movie character loses their job and you just lost yours, that movie is close to home. It touches a nerve because you are living it too.
How To Use It
You usually use this phrase with the verbs hit or be. For example, "That comment hit close to home." You are telling people that the subject is sensitive for you. It is a great way to explain why you are reacting strongly to something. You can use it for sad things, but also for very relatable life observations. Just remember it implies a deep, personal connection to the topic.
When To Use It
Use it when a conversation turns to something you have experienced. Maybe a friend is complaining about a difficult boss. If your boss is also a nightmare, their story hits close to home. Use it in meetings when discussing company changes that affect your specific team. It is perfect for reviewing books or movies that mirror your own family life. It shows you are being vulnerable and honest about your feelings.
When NOT To Use It
Do not use this for minor, shallow coincidences. If someone likes the same pizza topping as you, that is not close to home. That is just a shared preference. Avoid using it in very cold, data-driven professional reports. It is an emotional expression, so it might feel too subjective there. Also, do not use it if you are actually talking about your house. If a ball lands in your garden, it is just "near your house."
Cultural Background
In English-speaking cultures, the "home" is the ultimate private, safe space. It represents your inner life and your family. When something gets close to home, it has bypassed your public defenses. It has entered your private emotional world. The phrase has been around since the 1800s. It originally referred to physical strikes in sports or combat that got dangerously near. Now, it is almost entirely about your feelings and identity.
Common Variations
You will most often hear hit close to home. Sometimes people say strike close to home for a more dramatic effect. You might also hear someone say a remark was a bit too close to home. Adding "too" usually means the person is feeling a little exposed or uncomfortable. It is like saying, "Stop talking about this, it is making me think about my own problems!"
Notes d'usage
This idiom is very versatile and sits comfortably in neutral to informal registers. Be careful using it in purely technical contexts where emotional language is discouraged.
The 'Too' Factor
If you add `too` (e.g., 'too close to home'), it often implies the topic is painful or you'd rather not talk about it.
Not for Locations
Avoid using this to mean 'near my house' in a literal sense. Use 'nearby' or 'just around the corner' instead.
The Emotional Shield
English speakers use this phrase to admit they are affected by something without having to give a long, detailed explanation of their past.
Exemples
6That scene where the father loses his job really hit close to home.
That scene where the father loses his job was very relatable to my life.
The speaker likely experienced a similar situation.
The news about the budget cuts hit a bit too close to home for our team.
The news about budget cuts affected our team personally.
Used to show the news has a direct impact on the speakers.
Ouch, that joke about empty bank accounts hit way too close to home!
That joke was funny but also painfully true for my situation.
Used humorously to acknowledge a shared struggle.
I can't listen to that song right now; the lyrics are too close to home.
I can't listen to that song; it reminds me too much of my breakup.
Informal way to express emotional sensitivity.
The documentary on diabetes hit close to home since my mom is struggling with it.
The documentary was personal because of my mother's illness.
Connects a general topic to a specific family member.
Your story about growing up in a small town really hits close to home for me.
Your story is very similar to my own childhood experience.
Shows empathy and shared background.
Teste-toi
Choose the best verb to complete the idiom.
The documentary about struggling artists really ___ close to home for Sarah.
'Hit close to home' is the most common and natural collocation for this idiom.
Select the most appropriate context for the phrase.
I had to stop reading that book because the main character's grief was ___.
The speaker is describing an emotional connection to the character's pain, making 'close to home' the right fit.
🎉 Score : /2
Aides visuelles
Formality of 'Close to Home'
Used with friends about movies or jokes.
That meme hit close to home!
Standard usage in most conversations.
The news hit close to home for many residents.
Used in literature or serious discussions.
The policy changes hit close to home for the employees.
When to say 'Close to Home'
Watching a sad movie
The plot is so relatable.
Hearing bad news
It affects your neighborhood.
Listening to a friend
They have the same problem.
Reading a poem
It describes your feelings perfectly.
Questions fréquentes
10 questionsNo, it is almost always metaphorical. It means a topic affects you personally or emotionally, like saying that story hit close to home.
It is possible, but it is much more common for serious, sad, or slightly uncomfortable topics. You wouldn't usually say a winning lottery ticket hit close to home.
No. Hit the nail on the head means someone is exactly right about a fact. Hit close to home means someone said something that feels personal to you.
Not at all. It is a very common and polite way to express that you find a topic relatable or sensitive.
Yes, if you are discussing how a certain event might affect employees personally. For example, The recent layoffs hit close to home for many of us.
Relatable is more general and modern. Close to home implies a deeper, often more serious emotional impact.
You could say, It doesn't really affect me or I can't really relate to that. You wouldn't usually say It's far from home.
It can be about a situation, a news story, or even a fictional character. Anything that mirrors your own life can be close to home.
It depends on the tense. Use hits for general truths and hit for things that happened in the past. For example, That movie hit close to home last night.
No, it is a standard idiom. It is safe to use with your boss, your parents, or your friends.
Expressions liées
Strike a chord
To cause someone to feel sympathy or enthusiasm.
Touch a nerve
To mention a sensitive topic that makes someone upset.
Hit the mark
To be accurate or successful.
Get personal
To start talking about someone's private life.
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