be, come, etc. within a whisker of something/of doing something
be within a whisker of (something)
To be very close to getting, achieving, or experiencing something. She was within a whisker of the gold medal, but her leg cramped in the last few meters. Hundreds of people were within a whisker of death when their apartment building caught on fire in the middle of the night.
See also: of, whisker, within
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.
come within a whisker of something
COMMON If you come within a whisker of doing something, you almost do it. He came within a whisker of scoring the most spectacular goal. Meanwhile, Guccione came within a whisker of losing his mansion. Note: You can also say that someone is within a whisker of doing something. The two firms are within a whisker of agreeing a deal. Yet Miller had been within a whisker of being sacked.
See also: come, of, something, whisker, within
Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed.
be, come, etc. within a whisker of something/of doing something
(British English) almost do something: They came within a whisker of being killed.See also: of, something, whisker, within
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary
- be within a whisker of (something)
- come within a whisker of (something)
- come within a whisker of something
- come within a hair of (someone or something)
- come within an inch of
- come within an inch of (something)
- come within an inch of doing
- come within an inch of doing something
- come within an ace of
- come within an ace of something