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 near miss shaped how she thought about sight, light, and darkness, and it guided her into a career studying marine bioluminescence.

From Outside Online

We had near misses in the 90s and a few in the early aughts.

From Time

X was then warned of the near miss via a correspondent who had worked with him in the past.

From The Daily Beast

A recent study by solar physicists points out that we had a near-miss with a strong solar storm back in 2012.

From The Daily Beast

“A near miss” as the VA doctor familiar with the case described it.

From The Daily Beast

If the 2000 Florida recount felt like a multi-car collision, then 2012 was a near-miss.

From The Daily Beast

We avoided the Great Depression and it was a pretty near-miss.

From The Daily Beast

A short covered way near Miss Pritchard's desk gave access to the adjoining Chapel.

From Project Gutenberg

I would have liked to be near Miss Desmond, as I wished to draw her out further in regard to her political principles.

From Project Gutenberg

Mr. Winthrop Latham stood near Miss Stuart, assisting her to serve the tea.

From Project Gutenberg

The young lady in charge kept a careful hand near Miss Gwenny's, who was instructed or guided to increase the current gradually.

From Project Gutenberg

Sometimes—after, say, a near miss on the polo field—he would wonder how polite and dignified the great old days actually had been.

From Project Gutenberg