hair's breadth
Narrowest possible margin
A hair's breadth is the width of a single hair—an extremely small distance or margin.
The phrase almost always describes a narrow escape or close call: The bullet missed him by a hair's breadth.
It can also modify nouns: a hair's-breadth escape.
Sometimes written hairsbreadth or hair's-breadth.
Stiff facial bristle
- sliverThin split-off piece
- threadFiber for stitching
- inchTwelfth of a foot
- fractionPart divided by whole
millimeter · razor-thin · paper-thin · squeaker · photo finish · nail-biter · close call · near miss
Point of beginning
- borderlineEdge of acceptability
- brinkCritical boundary point
- edgeBoundary or sharpness
- demarcationFormal boundary setting
dividing line · tipping point · cusp · verge · precipice · fine line · razor's edge · balance
Millionth of a meter
- calipersAdjustable-jaw measuring device
- toleranceWillingness to accept difference
- calibrationAdjusting for measurement accuracy
- gaugeStandard of measurement
measurement · nanometer · micron · vernier · metrology · fine-tuning · instrumentation · machinist
State of being close
- closenessState of proximity
- adjacencyState of being beside
- contiguityState of touching directly
- within reachClose enough to grasp
whisker
Stiff facial bristle
fraction · millimeter · razor-thin · paper-thin · squeaker · photo finish · nail-biter · close call · near miss · narrow escape
threshold
Point of beginning
- borderlineEdge of acceptability
- brinkCritical boundary point
- edgeBoundary or sharpness
demarcation · dividing line · tipping point · cusp · verge · precipice · fine line · razor's edge · balance · knife-edge
micrometer
Millionth of a meter
- calipersAdjustable-jaw measuring device
- toleranceWillingness to accept difference
- calibrationAdjusting for measurement accuracy
gauge · measurement · nanometer · micron · vernier · metrology · fine-tuning · instrumentation · machinist · watchmaker
nearness
State of being close
- closenessState of proximity
- adjacencyState of being beside
- contiguityState of touching directly
within reach · at hand · imminent · impending · hovering
- close callsclose call, near miss, narrow escape, close shave, nick of time
- measurement idiomsinch by inch, give an inch, whole nine yards, by a mile, go the extra mile
- small amountsbit, drop, hint, dash, pinch
- measurementsheight, stature, meters, depth, pound
- Length Unitsinch, foot, feet, yard, mile
- distance phrasesstone's throw, arm's length, within reach, far away, nearby
hair's breadthmile
5,280 feet
country mile · light-year · chasm · world of difference · ocean