near miss
- a shell, aerial bomb, etc. that does not score a direct hit on the target but comes close enough to inflict some damage
- any result that is nearly but not quite successful
- a narrowly averted collision; a near escape
See near miss in American Heritage Dictionary 4
noun- A narrowly avoided collision involving two or more aircraft, ships, boats, or motor vehicles.
- A missile strike that is extremely close to but not directly on target.
- Something that fails by a very narrow margin: Her campaign for the Senate was a near miss.
Origin:
Origin: Blend of near thing
Origin: and miss1
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