= touch and go, n. 1b. Frequently to be rub and go.

Nautical. An act or instance of lightly or briefly striking rocks, the seabed, or another vessel without stopping or losing speed; (later also more…

A narrow escape, a close shave. Usually with qualifying adjectives narrow, near, tight. Also const. for (one's life, etc.).

a situation in which disaster, danger, etc., is narrowly avoided; a close shave; (later also) a situation in which a favourable or successful…

Hence, with substantives of action or position. close shave (originally U.S.): a narrow escape, a near thing (literal and figurative).

British colloquial. An instance of touching or close contact. a near (also close) toucher: a narrow avoidance of something; a close call. Cf. touch…

colloquial. An escape, a ‘squeak’.

Close-matched; (of a contest or objective) won or lost by a very small margin. near-run thing n. a narrow escape, an event (esp. a battle or other…

= close shave at sense A. 15b.