close call

American  

[klohs] / kloʊs /

noun

1. a narrow escape from danger or trouble.

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close call British  

/ kləʊs /

noun

1. another expression for close shave

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close call Idioms  

1. Also, close shave. Narrow escape, near miss. For example, That skier just missed the tree—what a close call, or That was a close shave, nearly leaving your passport behind. The first phrase dates from the late 1800s and comes from sports, alluding to an official's decision (call) that could have gone either way. The second, from the early 1800s, alludes to the narrow margin between closely shaved skin and a razor cut. (This latter usage replaced the much earlier equation of a close shave with miserliness, based on the idea that a close shave by a barber meant one would not have to spend money on another shave quite so soon.) Also see too close for comfort.

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Etymology

Origin of close call

An Americanism dating back to 1880–85

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

close call

“It is a close call, but while sounding hawkish, we think the Fed will ‘look through’ the energy-related near-term inflation and choose to hold interest rates steady,” said ING’s chief U.S. economist James Knightley.

From Barron's ● Jun. 15, 2026

This was a close call for Silva, though.

From BBC ● May 5, 2026

But it doesn’t look like a close call right now.

From MarketWatch ● Apr. 24, 2026

He described a close call involving his son, who was nearly hit while on a bike due to limited visibility at the intersection.

From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 26, 2026

Night was falling quickly, but no one wanted to risk another close call like the one they’d had that morning.

From "Shipwreck at the Bottom of the World" by Jennifer Armstrong

Related Words

• cliffhanger