a crash away

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a crash away" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that something is very close to happening, often in a negative or alarming context, such as an accident or failure. Example: "The car was speeding down the road, and it felt like a crash away from disaster."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

By federal law, vehicle interiors are designed, in part, as cages that deflect the forces of a crash away from the passengers.

The New York Times

In 2010, Metrolink purchased Rotem cars that have energy-absorbing crush zones designed to redistribute the force of a crash away from passengers.  .

Los Angeles Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

When a girl blows him a kiss in "Just a Car Crash Away," he "can already feel her worms eating my spine". He takes a particular delight in mutilation, for himself and others: "She'll never cover up what we did in a dress," he gloats in "Heart-Shaped Glasses (When the Heart Guides That Hand)," the album's snappiest song.

The New York Times - Arts

JUST A CAR CRASH AWAY 1.45 Another "romantic number", where love burns down everything it sees, gets my mind wandering.

The Guardian - Music

It features songs called 'Just a Car Crash Away' and also 'Mutilation is the Sincerest Form of Flattery' and... oh, you get the idea.

The Guardian

The works are at once durable and fragile, a paradox the artist extends conceptually into our increasingly digital world where our online lives seem safe outside of nature, but are only a computer crash away from destruction.

Vice

The Weimar balladry at which Manson excels is further represented by "They Said Hell's Not Hot" ("It was never about her, it was about hurt"), the beer-hall torch waltz "Just a Car Crash Away," and the textured title lament that closes the sepulcher.

Los Angeles Times

The beasts crash away into the bush, trumpeting their displeasure and shepherding a young calf to safety, its fuzzy contours just visible between the legs of its elders.

Independent

Buzzards swoop along the track and a badger crashes away into bushes, pursued by Wilf, who returns looking like he's been given a left hook.

The Guardian - Travel

It got even better before lunch when he bowled a cavalier Matt Prior via inside edge for 16 to leave England 336-6, still 34 in arrears, and after Strauss had crashed away a series of meaty drives, had his opposite number caught behind for 141.

BBC

The surf crashes away down below us.

The Guardian - Travel

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a crash away" to create a sense of urgency or impending doom when describing a precarious situation. It's effective for emphasizing how little it would take for things to go wrong.

Common error

Avoid using "a crash away" solely in literal descriptions of physical accidents. Its strength lies in its figurative use to convey a sense of looming disaster or failure.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a crash away" functions as an adjectival phrase modifying a noun (often implied), indicating proximity to a negative event or disastrous outcome. Ludwig AI confirms that the phrase is correct and usable in English.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "a crash away" is a grammatically correct and usable phrase, as confirmed by Ludwig AI. It functions as an adjectival phrase used to describe a situation that is very close to a negative outcome, such as an accident or failure. The phrase's primary purpose is to emphasize the precariousness of a situation and create a sense of impending doom. While its register is neutral, making it suitable for news media and general conversation, it appears relatively rarely in published sources. Related phrases include "on the verge of collapse" and "one step from disaster". When using "a crash away", it is best to employ it figuratively to describe looming disasters rather than solely in literal contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

one step from disaster

Emphasizes the closeness to a calamitous event.

on the verge of collapse

Focuses on the imminence of failure or ruin, rather than a sudden event.

teetering on the brink

Suggests instability and the likelihood of falling into a negative situation.

on the edge of ruin

Focuses specifically on the possibility of destruction or devastation.

a hair's breadth from catastrophe

Highlights the extremely small margin preventing a disaster.

close to failing

Emphasizes the potential for not succeeding.

in imminent danger

Highlights the immediate threat of harm or damage.

about to go wrong

A more general phrase indicating something negative is imminent.

heading for trouble

Suggests a course of action leading to a negative outcome.

risk of collision

Specifically indicates a chance of impact or conflict.

FAQs

How can I use "a crash away" in a sentence?

You can use "a crash away" to describe a situation that is very close to a negative outcome, like an accident or failure. For example, "The negotiation was tense, and it felt like the deal was "a crash away" from collapsing."

What are some alternatives to "a crash away"?

Alternatives include phrases like "on the verge of collapse", "one step from disaster", or "teetering on the brink", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "a crash away" a formal or informal expression?

"A crash away" is generally considered a neutral expression, suitable for use in both news media and general conversation, but less appropriate for highly formal or scientific writing.

What does it mean to say something is "a crash away"?

Saying something is ""a crash away"" means it is in a precarious state and very close to experiencing a sudden and often disastrous failure or collapse.