close call

1. A narrow escape from or avoidance of a situation, often an unfavorable or dangerous one. It was a close call, but I managed to avoid hitting the deer that ran directly in front of my car. I had a close call this morning when a tractor trailer unexpectedly swerved into my lane. Boy, that was a close call! That cop almost caught us!

2. A decision or judgment that is difficult to make due to each possibility being nearly equal in one's consideration. I'm sorry, it really was a close call, but we've decided to go with another candidate for this position. It was a close call, let me assure you. The judges deliberated for a very long time before agreeing on a winner. Wait, I'm only allowed to bring back two of my five interns? How am I supposed to make a close call like that?

3. A contest or competition whose winner is not clear due to very close competition or results that are difficult to distinguish. With the two candidates having nearly equal amounts of delegates, this election is going to be a very close call. The two teams are elite and evenly matched, so it's a really close call. I genuinely don't know which one will win. I don't know who will end up getting the funding—it's a close call between our department and theirs.

a close call

a close thing

COMMON If you describe an event as a close call or a close thing, you mean that someone very nearly had an accident or disaster, or very nearly suffered a defeat. `That was a close call,' said Bess, as the boat steadied. It was a close thing and, looking back now, I have no doubt that if my friend hadn't acted so promptly, I'd be dead.

a ˌclose ˈshave/ˈcall

(informal) a situation where a disaster, an accident, etc. almost happens: We didn’t actually hit the other car, but it was a close shave. ♢ Phew! That was a close call — she nearly saw us!