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Synonyms

near thing

British  

noun

  1. informal an event or action whose outcome is nearly a failure, success, disaster, etc

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
near thing Idioms  

  1. Something just barely effected, as in That election was a near thing—he won by a handful of votes. [Mid-1700s]

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

He is in both the pro and college football halls of fame, and the lacrosse hall as well, although his selection to the college hall was a near thing.

From Los Angeles Times • May 19, 2023

The bowler is interested in the near thing, but the better chance of the wicket comes at the non-striker’s end.

From The Guardian • Jun. 19, 2021

His choice of Bush as his running mate was a near thing.

From Seattle Times • Nov. 30, 2018

Even though war had been averted, it was a near thing.

From Washington Post • Aug. 30, 2018

I ain't going to cry, but it’s a near thing.

From "Dread Nation" by Justina Ireland

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.