Close the door behind you.

Meaning: This is a polite way to ask someone to move the door to cover the opening after they have used it.

Choice of Words: Close means to move something to cover an opening. Door is a hinged, sliding, or revolving barrier at the entrance to a building, room, or vehicle. Behind means at or to the back of something. "Close the door behind you" is a request to move the door to cover the opening after you have passed through.

Alternative Expressions

Please shut the door when you leave.

Meaning: This is a polite way to ask someone to close the door after they have gone through it. It's like saying, I would be grateful if you could make the door no longer open after you have gone through it.

Choice of Words: Please is a polite word that is used to make a request. Shut is another word for close. When you leave means after you have gone through the door. When you put them together, "Please shut the door when you leave" is a polite request asking someone to close the door after they have gone through it.

Don't let the door stay open.

Meaning: This means to ask someone to make sure that the door is closed after they have gone through it. It's like saying, Please take action to prevent the door from remaining in an open position.

Choice of Words: Don't is a contraction of the words "do not". Let means to allow something to happen. Stay open means to remain in an open position. When you put them together, "Don't let the door stay open" is an instruction asking someone to make sure that the door does not remain open.

Related Expressions