near thing

noun

1. informal.
   an event or action whose outcome is nearly a failure, success, disaster, etc

Idioms and Phrases

Something just barely effected, as in That election was a near thing—he won by a handful of votes . [Mid-1700s]

Example Sentences

It was a near thing though, and if I had not met you as I did, we should scarcely have done it.

From Project Gutenberg

"It was a near thing—a michty near thing," he admitted in the square.

From Project Gutenberg

It was a near thing, and Conal used his tongue pretty freely when he talked of it.

From Project Gutenberg

It was a near thing for the doctor, however, and two minutes more of that grip would have done for him.

From Project Gutenberg

The Duke of Wellington used to say that "In every case, the winning of a battle was always a damned near thing."

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• cliffhanger