hairbreadths
Barely-there distances measured
Hairbreadths is the plural of hairbreadth, a tiny distance—metaphorically the width of a single hair.
The word appears almost exclusively in phrases describing narrow margins: They escaped death by hairbreadths, The votes were separated by hairbreadths.
Also spelled hairsbreadths or hair's breadths.
Barely avoiding disaster
- close callDisaster narrowly averted
- near missNarrowly averted incident
- close shaveNarrow escape from harm
- squeakerBarely-won contest
brush with death · skin of teeth · dodged · avoided · skirted · eluded · touch and go · lucky break
Extremely narrow or slight
- slenderThin and graceful
- slimThin or meager
- negligibleToo small to consider
- infinitesimalQuantity approaching zero
minute · fractional · tiny · minuscule · marginal · scant · wafer-thin · paper-thin
Correctness in every detail
- finenessPurity or thinness measure
- meticulousnessExtreme carefulness in details
- accuracyDegree of correctness
- calibrationAdjusting for measurement accuracy
tolerance · delicacy · subtlety · refinement · exacting · pinpoint · fine-tuned
narrow escape
Barely avoiding disaster
- close callDisaster narrowly averted
- near missNarrowly averted incident
- close shaveNarrow escape from harm
squeaker · brush with death · skin of teeth · dodged · avoided · skirted · eluded · touch and go · lucky break · near thing
razor-thin
Extremely narrow or slight
- slenderThin and graceful
- slimThin or meager
- negligibleToo small to consider
infinitesimal · minute · fractional · tiny · minuscule · marginal · scant · wafer-thin · paper-thin · imperceptible
exactness
Correctness in every detail
- finenessPurity or thinness measure
- meticulousnessExtreme carefulness in details
- accuracyDegree of correctness
calibration · tolerance · delicacy · subtlety · refinement · exacting · pinpoint · fine-tuned
hairbreadthsmiles
Lengths of 5,280 feet
light-years · vast distances · leagues · country miles · chasms