close brush

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "close brush" is grammatically correct and can be used in written English.
It means a near or narrowly avoided dangerous or unpleasant situation. Example: "The hiker narrowly avoided a close brush with a venomous snake on the trail."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

52 human-written examples

But victory is sweeter after a close brush with defeat.

The New Yorker

That resolve hardened after a close brush with dead air.

The New York Times

That may be his last close brush with power for a while.

The Guardian

The plan was shelved, soon to be overshadowed by the country's close brush with bankruptcy.

The New York Times

"We've had a close brush with scandal two times in 50 years," he said Sunday.

The New York Times

But I also remember a very close brush with death more than eight years ago.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

8 human-written examples

But I've had a few close brushes.

The Guardian

He would have two more close brushes with the big leagues before he'd had enough.

The Washington Post

Lori (Ms. Keena) has particularly gory visions, and she also has close brushes with Jason.

The New York Times

It's hard to find a big-wave surfer who hasn't had some terrifyingly close brushes with death.

The New Yorker

He argued his three close brushes with death throughout his life make him better qualified to criticise the NHS than other politicians.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "close brush" to emphasize the narrowness of the avoidance. It's more impactful than a simple statement of avoidance.

Common error

Avoid using "close brush" when the danger or negative consequence was minimal. The phrase implies a significant threat or potential problem.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "close brush" functions primarily as a noun phrase. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and common usage in written English, signifying a narrowly avoided situation. It often acts as the object of a preposition or as a subject complement.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

78%

Formal & Business

12%

Wiki

2%

Less common in

Science

2%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "close brush" is a common and grammatically sound noun phrase used to describe situations where a negative outcome was narrowly avoided. As Ludwig AI indicates, the phrase appears frequently in News & Media and Formal & Business contexts, conveying a sense of relief and emphasizing the nearness of a potential disaster. While alternatives like "near miss" or "narrow escape" exist, "close brush" effectively highlights the precariousness of the situation. Remember to reserve its use for scenarios involving genuine risk or potential harm to maintain its intended impact.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

near miss

Refers to an incident where an accident or negative outcome was narrowly avoided.

narrow escape

Highlights the act of successfully avoiding danger or harm by a small margin.

close call

Indicates a situation where the outcome could have easily been negative or disastrous.

hair's breadth

Emphasizes the extremely small margin by which something was avoided.

near thing

British English term for a situation that was almost disastrous.

squeak through

Suggests managing to succeed or avoid failure by a very small margin.

by a whisker

Similar to hair's breadth, indicating a very close margin.

fortunate avoidance

Highlights the positive outcome of successfully avoiding a negative situation, often unexpectedly.

last-minute save

Focuses on the action taken just in time to prevent a negative outcome.

tight spot

Describes a difficult or dangerous situation that one manages to get out of.

FAQs

How can I use "close brush" in a sentence?

You can use "close brush" to describe a situation where someone narrowly avoided a negative outcome. For example, "The company had a "close brush" with bankruptcy but managed to recover."

What does "close brush" mean?

A "close brush" refers to a situation where someone or something narrowly avoids a dangerous or unpleasant experience. It emphasizes the nearness of the potential negative outcome.

What are some alternatives to "close brush"?

Alternatives to "close brush" include "near miss", "narrow escape", and "close call". The best choice depends on the specific context.

Is "close brush" an idiom?

"Close brush" is considered an idiomatic expression, meaning its overall meaning is not immediately obvious from the individual words it contains. It signifies a narrow avoidance of something unpleasant.