within a whisker of (something)

Very close to something. I swear the car came within a whisker of hitting the train, but stopped at the last second. I came within a whisker of winning that race, but I guess I'll have to settle for second place.

within a whisker of something

If something is within a whisker of a particular amount, it is almost that amount. The price of gold is now within a whisker of $330 an ounce.

See also: of, something, whisker, within

Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed. © HarperCollins Publishers 2012

See also:

within a whisker of
within a whisker of (something)
get within range (of something)
move within range
come within range
be within range (of someone or something)
within range
be, come, etc. within a whisker of something/of doing something
be within a whisker of (something)
come within a whisker of something

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