within cooee of (something)

Very close to something, either literally or figuratively. "Cooee" is an Aboriginal word. Primarily heard in Australia, New Zealand. There's a store within cooee of the house, so I can easily go and get more milk. The team came within cooee of the championship title, but lost the match in the final moments.

within cooee of

within reach of; near to.

Cooee originated as an Aboriginal word used as a shout to attract attention, and was adopted by European settlers in Australia. The literal meaning of the phrase within cooee of is ‘within hailing distance of’.

within ˈcooee (of)

(AustralE, New Zealand) not far (from): There’s loads of cheap accommodation within cooee of the airport. ♢ (figurative) The government is not within cooee of reaching the growth targets.

Cooee is a noise a person makes as a way of attracting somebody’s attention.