请问句中的draw to a close later是什么意思

问题描述

以下这句话出自BBC一篇关于马航MH370的文章：

It is expected to draw to a close later this year if there is no progress, although many relatives of passengers want it to continue if nothing is found by then.

请问句中的 draw to a close later 是什么意思？

老师答疑

刘老师：

draw to a close，意思是：“结束，终结，告终；渐近结束；临近尾声”。等于 come to a close ； come to a conclusion 。例如：

1. My stay in Beijing eventually drew to a close. 
我呆在北京的日子终于结束了。
2. In this manner, the visit drew to a close. 
访问以这种方式接近尾声。
3. The days of colonialism drew to a close. 
殖民主义时代结束了。
4. Iraq peace talks draw to a close in Finland. 
伊拉克和谈将在芬兰结束。
5. The cold winter has finally drawn to a close. 
寒冷的冬季终于结束了。
6. Our conference is drawing to a close. 
我们的会议就要结束了。
7. My stay in Beijing is drawing to a close. 
我快要离开北京了。
8. The month was drawing to a close. 
快到月末了。
9. His life was drawing to a close. 
他的生命正走向终点。
10. The meeting was drawing to a close. 
会议即将结束。

此外， later 跟这个词组无关。later this year 是时间状语，“今年晚些时候”。

付老师：

later this year是本句话的时间状语，可理解为“今年晚些时候”。