close encounter
Almost a collision
Close encounter is an experience of proximity to something extraordinary, especially a UFO or extraterrestrial being.
The phrase gained currency from J.
Allen Hynek's classification system for UFO reports, popularized by the 1977 film *Close Encounters of the Third Kind*.
More broadly, a close encounter is any unexpected brush with something remarkable or dangerous: I had a close encounter with a bear on the trail.
The phrase often carries a note of wonder or near-miss.
Non-native being
- spaceshipVehicle for interplanetary travel
- extraterrestrialBeing from outer space
- sightingInstance of perceiving something
- RoswellNew Mexico city, UFO-famous
Area 51 · abduction · flying saucer · unidentified · skywatching · contactee · Men in Black · SETI
Instance of perceiving something
- starstruckAwed by celebrity presence
- autographHandwritten personal signature
- recognitionPerceiving something as known
- paparazziAggressive celebrity photographers
selfie · spotted · red carpet · backstage · VIP · famous · idol · hero
Relating to one's self
- bondingForming close connections
- connectionA joining or relation
- rapportHarmonious mutual connection
- familiarityKnowledge through experience
closeness · face-to-face · eye contact · one-on-one · heart-to-heart · meaningful · touching · emotional
Narrowly averted incident
- brush with deathNarrow escape from dying
- narrow escapeBarely avoiding disaster
- harrowingExtremely distressing or disturbing
- life-threateningRisking death
survival · adrenaline · heart-pounding · split-second · lucky escape · collision course · predator · wildlife
Not yet clarified
- enigmaticPuzzling and obscure
- eerieDisturbingly strange
- phenomenonExtraordinary observable occurrence
- anomalyDeparture from the expected
strange · uncanny · otherworldly · paranormal · inexplicable · cryptid · Bigfoot · Loch Ness
alien
Non-native being
- spaceshipVehicle for interplanetary travel
- extraterrestrialBeing from outer space
- sightingInstance of perceiving something
Roswell · Area 51 · abduction · flying saucer · unidentified · skywatching · contactee · Men in Black · SETI · government cover-up
sighting
Instance of perceiving something
- starstruckAwed by celebrity presence
- autographHandwritten personal signature
- recognitionPerceiving something as known
paparazzi · selfie · spotted · red carpet · backstage · VIP · famous · idol · hero · legend
personal
Relating to one's self
- bondingForming close connections
- connectionA joining or relation
- rapportHarmonious mutual connection
familiarity · closeness · face-to-face · eye contact · one-on-one · heart-to-heart · meaningful · touching · emotional · vulnerability
near miss
Narrowly averted incident
- brush with deathNarrow escape from dying
- narrow escapeBarely avoiding disaster
- harrowingExtremely distressing or disturbing
life-threatening · survival · adrenaline · heart-pounding · split-second · lucky escape · collision course · predator · wildlife · shark
unexplained
Not yet clarified
- enigmaticPuzzling and obscure
- eerieDisturbingly strange
- phenomenonExtraordinary observable occurrence
anomaly · strange · uncanny · otherworldly · paranormal · inexplicable · cryptid · Bigfoot · Loch Ness · apparition
- close callsnear miss, narrow escape, nick of time, skin of teeth, hair's breadth
- encountersmeeting, run-in, running into, crossing paths, coming across
- Extraterrestrialsalien, aliens, extraterrestrial, ET, UFO
- UFOsUFO, flying saucers, UFOs, flying saucer, space aliens
- Alien Abductionabductee, beam of light, grey aliens, gray aliens, greys
- paranormalghosts, paranormal, haunting, poltergeist, apparition
close encountercollision
Forceful contact between objects
direct hit · head-on crash · crash · head-on collision · wide berth
close, closet, closed, closing, encounter, closely, closure, encountered, disclosure