striking distance
Within arm's reach
Striking distance is close enough to reach or attack effectively.
The phrase comes from combat—a boxer within striking distance can land a punch, a snake can strike its prey.
Figuratively, it means near enough to achieve a goal: The team is within striking distance of first place.
We're within striking distance of a cure.
- enemy lineAdversary's defensive position
- close quartersRestricted space, minimal distance
- kill zonePreplanned area of concentrated fire
- danger zoneHigh-risk location
- proximityNearness in space
within reach · brink · verge · cusp · hair's breadth · firing line · easy target · moving target · threshold · closeness · reach · at arm's length · nearness · range · vicinity · accessibility · radius · perimeter
- close rangepoint-blank, close quarters, short-range, within reach, arm's reach
- distance wordsnear, far, close, remote, nearby
- combat rangeclose range, short range, medium range, long range, point blank
striking distanceout of reach
Beyond one's grasp
beyond reach · out of range · unreachable · miles away · remote
striking distanceout of harm's way
In a secure position
safe zone · out of danger · safety · no man's land · neutral ground
striking, distance, strike, strikes, struck, stricken, striker, strikers, distances