near miss

  1. a shell, aerial bomb, etc. that does not score a direct hit on the target but comes close enough to inflict some damage
  2. any result that is nearly but not quite successful
  3. a narrowly averted collision; a near escape

See near miss in American Heritage Dictionary 4

noun
  1. A narrowly avoided collision involving two or more aircraft, ships, boats, or motor vehicles.
  2. A missile strike that is extremely close to but not directly on target.
  3. 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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