by a hair

Idioms and Phrases

Also, by a hairbreadth or whisker . Very narrowly. For example, His serve was out by a hair , or We made our flight by a hairbreadth , or Dad missed hitting the pole by a whisker . The first two hyperboles for the very narrowest margin date from the 1300s and 1400s respectively; whisker meaning “a small amount” was first recorded in 1913. Also see by the skin of one's teeth ; hang by a hair .

Example Sentences

As of Wednesday, the measure was winning by a hair.

From Los Angeles Times

By a hair’s breadth, it didn’t, although the Germans sank 455 ships in the operation.

From Salon

FiveThirtyEight averages now have Harris up by a hair in Arizona and tied in Georgia.

From Slate

Anderson said she is really sorry to anyone who, like her mother and siblings, might have had a “minor heart attack” as Team GB crossed the finish line ahead of the Netherlands by a hair to take gold.

From BBC

Furiosa won the holiday box office over Garfield by a hair.

From Seattle Times

Related Words

• barely
• comparatively
• practically
• rarely
• seldom
• simply
• somewhat