A close call Meaning in English
expression
ˈeɪ/, /ə/ /ˈkɫoʊs/, /ˈkɫoʊz/ /ˈkɔɫ
uh KLOHS kawl
æɪ/ /kləʊz/ /kˈɔːl
uh KLOHZ kawl
Definition
An expression used when someone almost had a bad outcome or accident, but managed to avoid it just in time.
Usage & Nuances
Informal, often used after narrowly avoiding danger or making a mistake. Similar to 'that was close' or 'near miss'. Common in both speech and writing when recounting a risky or surprising moment.
Spanish: por poco - un susto - una situación por pocoPortuguese (BR): por pouco - por um triz - quasePortuguese (PT): por um triz - por poucoChinese (Simplified): 有惊无险 - 千钧一发Chinese (Traditional): 有驚無險 - 千鈞一髮Hindi: बाल-बाल बचना - मुश्किल से बचावArabic: نجا بأعجوبة - كاد أن يحدثBengali: বাঁচা বাঁচা অবস্থা - অল্পের জন্য রক্ষা - অল্পের জন্য বিপদ এড়ানোRussian: чуть не случилось - на волоске от беды - едва удалось избежатьJapanese: 危機一髪 - ギリギリセーフVietnamese: suýt nữa thì gặp chuyện - suýt thì - thoát hiểm trong gang tấcKorean: 아슬아슬했다 - 간신히 피했다Turkish: ucuz atlattık - kıl payı kurtuldukUrdu: بال بال بچنا - بالکل قریب تھا (حادثہ کے لحاظ سے)Indonesian: nyaris saja - hampir celaka
Example Sentences
That was a close call—the car almost hit us.
basic
It was a close call, but we made the flight just in time.
basic
Dropping my phone was a close call—it almost broke.
basic
Wow, that was a close call! I almost forgot my passport at home.
natural
It was a close call during the storm last night—our tree almost fell.
natural
It’s always a close call when I hit snooze and almost oversleep.
natural