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shrink the space

[/ʃrɪŋk ðə speɪs/]
verb phrase
reduzir o espaço
1. In sports (particularly football/soccer), to close the distance between defenders and attackers to limit time and space for play
The defense needs to shrink the space when the opponent gets near the goal.
A defesa precisa reduzir o espaço quando o adversário se aproxima do gol.
2. To reduce the physical or metaphorical distance in a given situation
We should shrink the space between our two offices to improve communication.
Devemos reduzir o espaço entre nossos dois escritórios para melhorar a comunicação.
Synonyms
close the gaptighten defensereduce distancenarrow the spacecompress space
Antonyms
expand the spaceopen up spaceincrease distancewiden the gap

Regional Variations

General Brazilian
reduzir o espaço
Most common usage, especially in sports commentary
São Paulo
diminuir o espaço
Alternative common usage
Portugal
reduzir o espaço
Standard usage in European Portuguese sports terminology

Related Idioms & Phrases

play tight defense
cut off the passing lanes
mark closely
pressure the ball
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