Historical clue formulations

• Not far away — 2026-04-20
• Almost there — 2026-01-07
• Seal, say — 2025-10-19
• "You're getting warmer!" — 2025-08-05
• Seal up — 2023-12-12
• Within a point or two, as scores — 2023-02-26
• Thick as thieves — 2021-02-20
• With 85-Across, uncomfortably accurate — 2020-06-28
• With 47-Across, get the buyer to buy — 2020-03-10
• In the ballpark — 2018-11-04
• Put a cork in — 2018-03-20
• Thereabouts — 2017-03-23
• Separated by a hairbreadth — 2016-11-20
• Neck and neck — 2016-10-23
• "You're almost there" — 2016-09-18
• Intimate — 2013-05-12
• Like some calls — 2013-03-03
• About to happen — 2012-06-03
• Ending — 2012-01-05
• Wind up — 2009-12-12
• Like some calls — 2008-01-10
• Within walking distance — 2005-09-11
• Almost touching — 2004-08-08
• Intimate — 2002-11-07
• Seal the deal — 2002-09-28
• Tight-knit — 2002-08-12
• Like best friends — 2002-03-31
• Buddy-buddy — 2001-12-28
• Almost equal — 2001-04-15
• Like some calls — 1999-08-25
• Intimate — 1998-10-14
• Stuffy — 1998-09-27
• Stingy — 1998-07-31
• Kind of call — 1998-03-19
• Lacking fresh air — 1997-06-15
• In the ball park — 1997-01-06
• Just off — 1996-11-14
• "Dangerous Liaisons" star — 1995-01-06