Major Cold: It's the day of the year that the cold is most severe, but you could also say that Spring is just coming around the corner.

Our entrance examination was near at hand.

The examination is close at hand.

I was keyed up over her impending operation.

She was approaching thirty when I first met her.

She was approaching thirty when I first met her.

Business recovery, which looks to be just around the corner, will be rapid and strong.

Seen close-up, things have a way of showing their defects, their innate ugliness.

I am terribly busy because the report deadline is near.

This building is near completion.

Christmas is near at hand, isn't it?

"Tom, were you awake during the earthquake?" "What, there was an earthquake?" "Yes, it was a little after 1:30. It was a fairly large tremor." "Really? I slept through it just like normal."

"What time is it?" "2:30." "Really? I wanted to go to sleep early today, too."

In addition the snow thaw is near.