too close for comfort

Adjective

too close for comfort (not comparable)

1. Near enough to cause discomfort.
   • Even the neighbouring country was too close for comfort. The episode was acutely embarrassing for Victor, who returned to England boiling with silent rage.2015, Anita Anand, Sophia: Princess, Suffragette, Revolutionary, →ISBN, page 130
   • He repeated the action with her other foot, and when he stood, he was much too close for comfort.2015, Shannyn Schroeder, Hot & Nerdy, →ISBN, page 243
2. Near enough to be dangerous.
   • Our house at Cavenagh Road had been boarded up and abandoned when the Japanese artillery shells started falling too close for comfort.2014, Walter Woon, The Devil and the Deep Blue Sea, →ISBN
   • 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.2015, Rick Campbell, Empire Rising: A Novel, →ISBN, page 178
3. So similar or applicable to one's situation that it causes distress.
   • When the truth gets too close for comfort, the ego needs to distract us and root us in our bodies2014, Ian Patrick, Of Course!: How Many Light Bulbs Does It Take to Change?, →ISBN
   • The parallel with Oman is not exact, but it is far too close for comfort – and the Sultan's shoulders are much less broad than the Shah's.2015, Tore Petersen, Anglo-American Policy toward the Persian Gulf, 1978–1985, →ISBN
4. Frightening because of almost resulting in injury or disaster.
   • Thank god for schools and stranger danger, Rebecca thought with a sigh, but still, it'd been too close for comfort. Maybe it had just been someone looking for directions, but if that were the case, why take off when an adult came along?2015, Karly Lane, Burnt, →ISBN
   • That had been much too close for comfort, and it had served me right.2015, Gemma Halliday, Deadly in High Heels: High Heels Mysteries, →ISBN