by a hair/whisker
by a hair/whisker
Very narrowly, by a very small distance or amount. For example, “He missed sideswiping that car by a hair,” or “That ball was in, but just by a whisker.” Both versions of this cliché allude to the fineness of a single hair. The first, also put as by a hairbreadth, dates from the fourteenth century, whereas the second originated in early twentieth-century America.
See also: by, hair, whisker
The Dictionary of Clichés by Christine Ammer
- within
- within a whisker of
- within a whisker of (something)
- within a whisker of something
- put some distance between
- put some distance between (someone or something)
- put some distance between someone and someone/something
- into the distance
- in striking distance (of someone or something)
- pace out