Meaning: This idiom refers to a situation in which an accident or disaster is narrowly avoided. It implies that something bad almost happened but was averted at the last moment.
Usage in Example Sentences:
- “The car skidded on the ice but stopped just in time to avoid hitting the pedestrian—what a near miss!”
- “The airplane experienced a near miss when another plane came too close during landing.”
- “She had a near miss with a falling tree branch during the storm, but luckily she was unharmed.”
Origin: The origin of the idiom “near miss” is primarily from aviation and military contexts. In aviation, a near miss refers to an incident where two aircraft come dangerously close to each other but avoid collision. The term is also used in military contexts to describe situations where a bomb or projectile narrowly misses its target. Over time, the phrase has been adopted into everyday language to describe any situation where a potential disaster or accident is narrowly avoided. The term highlights the proximity to danger while emphasizing the successful avoidance of harm.
