Definition

Noun: A situation or event that is very close to being a failure or a disaster; a narrow escape or a very close result.

Usage

This noun phrase describes an outcome that was almost negative but was narrowly avoided. It emphasizes how close the situation was to being bad.

Examples

Advanced Usage

• "to have a near thing": to experience a narrow escape.
  • We had a near thing on the motorway when a lorry swerved into our lane.
• Often used with verbs like "be," "have," or "prove to be."
  • The election proved to be a near thing, with the winner declared by a handful of votes.

Variants and Related Words

• Close call (n): A very similar expression for a narrow escape.
  • Missing that flight was a close call; it crashed after takeoff.
• Close shave (n): An informal synonym for a narrow escape from danger.
  • He had a close shave when the falling branch just missed his head.

Synonyms

• Narrow escape: An escape that almost did not happen.
• Close thing: A result or escape that was very narrowly achieved.

Related Phrases

• By a whisker: By a very small margin (often used with winning or losing).
  • He won the race by a whisker.
• By the skin of one's teeth: By an extremely narrow margin; barely.
  • She passed the test by the skin of her teeth.

Noun

1. something that barely avoids failure or disaster