near miss

or near-miss

noun

1. a strike by a missile that is not a direct hit but is close enough to damage the target.
2. an instance of two vehicles, aircraft, etc., narrowly avoiding a collision.
3. something that falls narrowly short of its object or of success:

   an interesting movie, but a near miss.

near miss

noun

1. a bomb, shell, etc, that does not exactly hit the target
2. any attempt or shot that just fails to be successful
3. an incident in which two vehicles narrowly avoid collision

Idioms and Phrases

A narrowly avoided mishap; also, an attempt that falls just short of success. For example, It was a near miss for that truck, since the driver had crossed the center strip into on-coming traffic , or Her horse kept having a near miss in every race, so she decided to sell it . This expression originated during World War II, when it signified a bomb exploding in the water near enough to a ship to damage its hull. Soon afterward it acquired its present meanings.

Example Sentences

The 28-year-old Englishwoman’s rediscovery of her winning touch after a frustrating spell of near misses, suggests a brighter future for one of the game’s most natural talents.

From BBC

Only recently has the hurt from that near miss started to fade.

From BBC

It exists to be successful, to win trophies, This is something the country’s men have not achieved for 58 years, so something had to change after the recent near misses under Southgate.

From BBC

Lando Norris had two very near misses with the wall on his way to victory.

From BBC

“What we're seeing is a continued trickle of deaths - or serious near misses - from anaphylaxis that might be mitigated by this kind of change in legislation and policy,” he says.

From BBC