close call
Barely avoided disaster
A close call is a narrow escape from danger or disaster—something bad almost happened but didn't: That was a close call; the car missed us by inches.
Also used for situations decided by slim margins: The election was a close call.
The phrase likely derives from umpires' difficult judgment calls in baseball.
Also close shave.
Narrowly averted incident
- brushBristled cleaning tool
- hairbreadthExtremely narrow margin
- whiskerStiff facial bristle
- shaveCut hair close
narrow · tight squeeze · touch-and-go · cliffhanger · precarious · dicey · risky · chancy
near miss
Narrowly averted incident
- brushBristled cleaning tool
- hairbreadthExtremely narrow margin
- whiskerStiff facial bristle
shave · narrow · tight squeeze · touch-and-go · cliffhanger · precarious · dicey · risky · chancy · hazardous
narrow escape
Barely avoiding disaster
dodge · elude · squeak · scrape · reprieve · relief · lucky · miracle · fluke · save
- chasespursuit, chase, flee, fleeing, escape
- close callsnear miss, narrow escape, nick of time, skin of teeth, hair's breadth
- close winsphoto finish, buzzer beater, squeaker, nail biter, by a whisker
- suspensesuspense, suspenseful, tension, nail-biter, nail-biting
- Down to the Wirelast minute, nail-biter, photo finish, eleventh hour, crunch time
- judgment callsjudgment, verdict, ruling, determination, final say
close callblowout
Sudden tire failure
landslide · walk in the park · cakewalk · sure thing · easy win
close callforegone conclusion
Result assumed beforehand
sure thing · certainty · done deal · slam dunk · no contest
close callnon-event
Disappointing lack of significance
anticlimax · smooth sailing · breeze · no drama · easy going
call, close, closed, closing, closer, closure, enclosure, closes, disclosure