come within an inch of

come within an inch of (something)

To almost get, achieve, or experience something. She came within an inch of the gold medal, but her leg cramped in the last few meters. Hundreds of people came within an inch of death when their apartment building caught on fire in the middle of the night.
See also: come, inch, of, within
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

come within an inch of someone or something

 and come within a hair('s breadth) of someone or something
to come very close to someone or something. The bullet came within an inch of Heather. The car came within a hair of the bus.
See also: come, inch, of, within
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.
See also:
  • 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)
  • come within an ace of something
  • come within a whisker of (something)
  • come within a whisker of something
  • come within a hair of (someone or something)
  • come within a hair's breadth of (someone or something)