close call
Meaning
A narrow escape; a situation where something bad almost happened but was avoided by a small margin.
Origin
From the idea of a "close" decision or judgment (a call) in contests/sports—so near that it could have gone either way—extended to any near miss.
Notes
Often conversational, expressing relief after a near miss. Used for narrowly avoiding accidents, mistakes, or defeat. Can sound too casual for very serious incidents.
Examples
-
That was a close call—we almost missed our flight.
-
It was a close call when the car skidded on the ice but stopped just in time.
-
Losing my phone at the festival was a close call; I found it right before we left.
-
The deal fell apart at the last minute, but we managed to save it—a close call.
-
The goalkeeper made a last-second save, and it was a close call for the home team.
Grammar & Usage Notes
Usually used as a noun phrase: "It was a close call" / "That was a close call." Can also be "a close call" after linking verbs. Not typically plural unless referring to multiple incidents.
Synonyms
- near miss
- narrow escape
- close shave
- near thing
Antonyms
- sure thing
- safe bet
- clear win
- no contest