# close the books

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/close-the-books
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

To finalize the financial records for a specific accounting period; to cease trading.

## Examples

- We close the books at the end of every month.
- The accountant needs to close the books before we can calculate the final profit for the year.
- After decades of declining sales and mounting debt, the board of directors finally decided to close the books on the company's operations.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.