Hair's breadth Meaning in English
expression
ˈhɛɹz/ /ˈbɹɛdθ
HAIRZ-bredth
heəz/ /bɹˈɛdθ
HAIRZ-bredth
Definition
A very tiny amount or distance; often used to describe something happening or being separated by the smallest possible margin.
Usage & Nuances
This is a formal or literary expression. Common in phrases like 'by a hair's breadth' (just barely). Not used for literal hair, but for describing how close something was to happening.
Spanish: pelo de ancho - un pelo de diferenciaPortuguese (BR): fio de cabelo - por um trizPortuguese (PT): fio de cabelo - por um trizChinese (Simplified): 毫发之差 - 一丝之差Chinese (Traditional): 毫髮之差 - 一絲之差Hindi: बाल की चौड़ाई - बाल भर फर्कArabic: شعرة واحدة - فرق ضئيلBengali: চুলচেরা ফারাক - খুব সামান্য দূরত্বRussian: волосок - волоскомJapanese: 紙一重 - 髪の毛一本分Vietnamese: một sợi tóc - sát nútKorean: 간발의 차이 - 머리카락 한 올 차이Turkish: kıl payıUrdu: بال برابر فرق - بال برابر فاصلے پرIndonesian: sehelai rambut - nyaris sekali
Example Sentences
He escaped the accident by a hair's breadth.
basic
The ball missed the goal by a hair's breadth.
basic
She passed the test by a hair's breadth.
basic
We won the game by a hair's breadth; it was really close!
natural
Their car stopped at the train tracks by a hair's breadth before the train passed.
natural
The winning photo was chosen by a hair's breadth—it was nearly a tie.
natural