A close call 🤏🏻💨

Meaning

An instance where something bad or dangerous almost happened.

Origin

Imagine a tense moment in ancient Rome. Charioteers thundered around the Circus Maximus, wheels mere inches apart. A slight miscalculation, a touch too much speed, and disaster would strike – a brutal crash, a tangled mess of wood and flesh. Victory hinged on the narrowest of margins, on a 'call' so close it could be measured in the width of a thumb. This visceral experience of near-disaster, where the outcome swung precariously between success and ruin, gave birth to the phrase that still describes those heart-stopping moments when danger or failure bypasses us by the slimmest of chances.

☠️ risk 😨😱 fear 🍀 luck 😮 surprise 🏆 success

A close call represented with emoji🤏🏻💨

This delightful pairing of a pinching hand and a puff of air playfully teaches the viewer to appreciate the narrowness of escape. It functions as a charming reminder that sometimes, things come down to the slightest of margins, a moment so brief it's barely tangible.

Examples

  • Swerving to avoid the deer was a close call, but thankfully no one was hurt.
  • The parachute failing to open completely was a close call for the skydiver.
  • The teetering tower of Jenga blocks was a close call, but somehow it didn't tumble.
  • Being chased by a rogue biscuit was a close call, and I barely escaped with my cookie unharmed.

Frequently asked questions

Is 'a close call' a proverb or an idiom?

'A close call' is an idiom. Idioms are phrases where the words together have a meaning that is different from the dictionary definitions of the individual words.

What's the opposite of 'a close call'?

The opposite of 'a close call' could be 'a near miss' if describing something bad that was avoided, or perhaps 'a resounding success' or 'a clear victory' if describing an outcome that was never in doubt.

How can you use 'a close call' in a sentence?

You can use 'a close call' to describe a situation where something bad almost happened, such as 'The driver swerved just in time, it was a close call.'

Does 'a close call' always refer to danger?

While 'a close call' most often refers to avoiding danger or disaster, it can also describe situations where failure or a negative outcome was narrowly averted, like failing a test by only one point.

Similar to "a close call"

A narrow escape
Both phrases capture the idea of avoiding disaster, but 'a narrow escape' puts a spotlight on the *action* of getting away, like a sprinter breaking the tape just ahead of the pack, whereas 'a close call' emphasizes the *proximity* to danger itself
A hair's breadth
This one speaks to the infinitesimal margin of success, like a surgeon's precision on life and death, while 'a close call' is more about the *event* that nearly happened, the 'what if' lingering in the air
A whisker away
Much like 'a close call,' this phrase highlights how disaster was almost upon us, but 'a whisker away' often carries a slightly more dramatic, even playful, undertone, as if fate itself was just teasing before relenting

Opposite of "a close call"

A sure thing
This argues for the certainty of a positive outcome, directly countering the precariousness inherent in 'a close call,' and their contrast illuminates the thrill of luck versus the comfort of reliable success
A foregone conclusion
This phrase asserts that the outcome was inevitable from the start, a stark opposite to the sheer chance and near-miss of 'a close call,' and their tension highlights the drama of the unexpected versus the calm of destiny
A bitter end
While 'a close call' celebrates avoiding misfortune, 'a bitter end' embraces the inevitability of failure, and their opposition underscores the fundamental human drama between escaping fate and succumbing to it

Related to "a close call"

Tempting fate
This phrase describes the reckless behavior that often precedes a close call, sharing the risky energy but preceding the near-disaster
Dodging a bullet
This idiom is a blood relative to 'a close call,' both signifying survival against the odds, but 'dodging a bullet' specifically evokes a sudden, violent threat that was actively evaded
Luck
'Luck' is the invisible force often credited for a close call, existing as the abstract concept that underlies the concrete event
Hindsight
The moment of a close call often lives on in hindsight, where the past danger is replayed and analyzed, turning a near-miss into a story
Second chance
A close call inherently grants a second chance, transforming the brink of disaster into an opportunity for a renewed path forward