come within a whisker of something
come within a whisker of (something)
To almost get, achieve, or experience something. She came within a whisker of the gold medal, but her leg cramped in the last few meters. Hundreds of people came within a whisker of death when their apartment building caught on fire in the middle of the night.
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2022 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.
come within a whisker of something
COMMON If you come within a whisker of doing something, you almost do it. He came within a whisker of scoring the most spectacular goal. Meanwhile, Guccione came within a whisker of losing his mansion. Note: You can also say that someone is within a whisker of doing something. The two firms are within a whisker of agreeing a deal. Yet Miller had been within a whisker of being sacked.
Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed. © HarperCollins Publishers 2012
be, come, etc. within a whisker of something/of doing something
(British English) almost do something: They came within a whisker of being killed.Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017
- come within a whisker of (something)
- come within an inch of
- come within an inch of (something)
- come within an inch of doing
- come within an inch of doing something
- come within an ace of
- come within an ace of (something)
- come within an ace of something
- come within a hair of (someone or something)
- be within a whisker of (something)