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. No, they came within an inch of defeat. They only won on a last-second touchdown!

See also: an, come, inch, of, within

Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.

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: an, come, inch, of, within

McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.