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

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

From BBC

Shimon says he was the only one of those fighting alongside him to survive, and he too, had a near miss.

From BBC

His latest near miss, in last week’s BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth, was a second runner-up finish in as many weeks - having been beaten by Rasmus Hojgaard at the Irish Open.

From BBC

He named his build-up to the Games ‘Project Send It’ - determined to finish the final with no regrets following his near miss three years ago.

From BBC

And the country had a very dramatic near miss too.

From BBC