near miss

Or near-miss

noun

1. a strike by a missile that is not a direct hit but is close enough to damage the target.

2. an instance of two vehicles, aircraft, etc., narrowly avoiding a collision.

3. something that falls narrowly short of its object or of success.

   an interesting movie, but a near miss.

near miss

noun

1. a bomb, shell, etc, that does not exactly hit the target

2. any attempt or shot that just fails to be successful

3. an incident in which two vehicles narrowly avoid collision

Idioms and Phrases

A narrowly avoided mishap; also, an attempt that falls just short of success. For example, It was a near miss for that truck, since the driver had crossed the center strip into on-coming traffic, or Her horse kept having a near miss in every race, so she decided to sell it. This expression originated during World War II, when it signified a bomb exploding in the water near enough to a ship to damage its hull. Soon afterward it acquired its present meanings.

Example Sentences

Mr Goldstone said the "ripple effect" of the attack had been felt by the "entire Jewish community" and described his family's near miss as "sheer fate".

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“Every single time, it’s a near miss” of a train hitting a person, said Ryan Snow, the California State Chairman of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen.

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After the terror of the incident, Ulasewicz said the revelation that his plane was involved in a near miss changed his emotions to anger.

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But he remained in the very upper echelons of the game throughout that period of frustrating near misses.

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While the school has had no incidents involving a pupil, Ms Rudge said there had been some near misses with parents.

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