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

“A number of members noted that the decision was a close call and that they would not have opposed raising rates at the current meeting had this been on the table,” the ECB said.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 28, 2026

"This would mean a close call for a global recession which has happened only four times since 1980," it said, most recently during the Covid pandemic.

From BBC ● Apr. 14, 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

Then, still laughing, he left, not even noticing that I had Joe Pepitone’s jacket on, the chump—which, of course, I was glad about, since it was a pretty close call.

From "Okay for Now" by Gary D. Schmidt

Related Words

• cliffhanger