within an ace of

Related to within an ace of: give a shot, be damned, not a chance

within an ace of (doing) (something)

Extremely close to doing, achieving, or obtaining something, typically having failed by a very narrow margin. I came within an ace of winning that race, but I guess I'll have to settle for second place. They were within an ace of defeat when the quarterback threw a Hail Mary for a last-second touchdown. Crude oil prices came within an ace of $80 a barrel on Friday, threatening to plunge markets further into recession around the globe.
See also: ace, of, within
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

within an ace of (doing) something

 and within a hair('s breadth) of something
very close to doing something. I came within an ace of getting into an accident. We were within an ace of beating the all-time record. We were within a hair's breadth of beating the all-time record.
See also: ace, of, within
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.

within an ace of

Also, within an inch of. Very close to, within a narrow margin of, as in We were within an ace of calling you, but we'd lost your phone number, or We were within an inch of buying tickets for that concert. The first term refers to the ace of dice, that is, the one pip on a die. The lowest number one can throw with a pair of dice is two (two aces), a throw that is within an ace of one. The term began to be used for other kinds of near miss by about 1700.
See also: ace, of, within
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.

within an ace of

very close to.
Ace here has the figurative meaning of ‘a tiny amount’ and is used with reference to the single spot on the playing card. The phrase was first recorded in the early 18th century.
See also: ace, of, within
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary

within an ace of something/of doing something

(British English) very close to something: We came within an ace of victory.
See also: ace, of, something, within
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary

within an ace of

On the verge of; very near to: came within an ace of losing the election.
See also: ace, of, within
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition.
See also:
  • within an ace of (doing) (something)
  • within an ace of doing something
  • within an ace of something
  • within an ace of something/of doing something
  • within a hair of (something)
  • within a hair's breadth of (something)
  • within ames ace
  • within an ace of, to be
  • be out for (something)
  • out for, be
References in periodicals archive
Holloway caught the nation's imagination when he led Blackpool into the top flight on a shoestring budget and came within an ace of keeping them up.
HOLLOWAY TOPS BILL AT WOLVES; Football Spy
WOLVES legend Kenny Hibbitt says Mick McCarthy should win Manager of the Year for taking them within an ace of safety.
Hibbitt tips Mick for award
Jack Dyson of Brockholes went within an ace of landing the Yorkshire Merit title in a super finals day at Almondbury Liberal Club.
Gant is the top Champ; Bowling
They came within an ace of being one of the biggest cup shock victim for years - but in the end prevailed 22-20 at Carmarthen Quins of the Welsh National League.
Rugby Union: SWALEC CUP ROUND-UP
HAVING come within an ace of qualifying for the Open for the second successive year, David Shacklady (Mossock Hall) now turns his attentions to the next golfing challenge on his horizon - the flagship event for Britain & Ireland's club professionals, the Glenmuir PGA Professional Championship.
Golf: Shacklady looking to enjoy a final tonic; Open Championship 2008
Pricewise followers were in clover again yesterday with yet another big-priced winner while Spotlight came within an ace of going through the card at Beverley, tipping the first six winners at accumulative odds of nearly 1,500-1
Next stop Epsom?
Their display was in total contrast to that of Tuesday when they came within an ace of seeing off the defending champions and top qualifiers Spain, one of the world's leading sides.
Tired Wales pay price for loose shots
He said: "We were within an ace of an arrangement on protection of pay and conditions in the Livingston site transfer when the Tesco managers produced a statement stating quite clearly they wanted to derecognise us.
Tesco's drivers in pay row walkout
And how Chester tried to capitalise as Gregg Blundell could have had a 26-minute hat-trick, while Sean Hessey and Roberto Martinez forced great saves, and Laurence Wilson and Jamie Hand went within an ace of glory.
Football: WRIGHT PROUD OF MY BOYS; FA CUP BACK ON THE ROAD TO WEMBLEY FA CUP 3rd ROUND Chester 0 Ipswich 0
Seaman Tommy Watson won undying fame by travelling to America on board a luxury liner not once but twice ( first to whip Fidel LaBarba in New York and then to come within an ace of ripping the world crown from the sleek head of Cuban Bon-Bon Kid Chocolate.
Byker to Broadway for Tommy
But, in one of the most sensational performances by a Briton at Wimbledon Cowan came within an ace of upsetting the odds and unseating the American.
Rewind: My Favourite Game, Set and Match Memory Barry Cowan vs Pete Sampras
Dunlop went within an ace of victory at Coventry Alliance champions-elect Bedworth Ex-Service.
FOOTBALL: Griff bid for County FA cup glory
Brewerton, who played in the Vagliano match of two years ago in Venice, got a taste of professional golf when she competed in the Tenerife Open in April and came within an ace of pulling off an amazing triumph.
Golf: Backy's back in favour with the selectors
Ultimately, the Shrews were lucky to escape with a point after the visitors came within an ace of a dramatic victory when Clark Keltie hit a stoppage time free-kick against Ian Dunbavin's crossbar.
Football: SLACK SHREWS LOSE THE PLOT; SHREWSBURY 2 DARLINGTON 2
NICK KNIGHT Seems to be typecast these days as a one-day batsman in international terms, but he came within an ace of averaging 100 for Warwickshire this season and clearly has something to prove if his chance ever comes again in Tests.
CRICKET: Ramprakash favourite for Ashes call-up; Graham Thorpe's decision to opt out of this winter's Ashes tour has sent England's plans into disarray. David Clough pinpoints the most likely candidates to replace him