near miss
noun /ˌnɪə ˈmɪs/
/ˌnɪr ˈmɪs/
- a situation when a serious accident or a disaster very nearly happens
- The two planes were involved in a near miss.
- The terrifying near miss took place at 4 500 feet.
- He’s a terrible driver. We had one near miss after another!
- a bomb or a shot that nearly hits what it is aimed at but misses it
- He scored two goals and had another two near misses.
- (figurative) He should have won the match—it was a near miss.
see also a near thing