hair's breadth

USAGE SUMMARY

"hair's breadth" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it to describe situations or objects that are very small or close together. For example, "The gap between the two shelves was only a hair's breadth."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

54 human-written examples

It's a hair's breadth away from tumbling into chaos, but sticks the landing the more intensely that Sorbara sells her solitariness.

Vice

Overall, there's about a hair's breadth worth of difference between these two gentlemen on the issues.

The Economist

A mere hair's breadth.

The New York Times - Books

If anything, by a hair's breadth, she has the edge.

The New Yorker

Greece came within a hair's breadth of leaving the eurozone.

The Guardian - Business

I did this and dodged elimination by a hair's breadth.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

5 human-written examples

"But part of the point is that often there's but a hair's-breadth difference between the two".

Huffington Post

"Prince George was born a hair's-breadth away from Leo, but he's still Cancer – 29 degrees and 59 minutes.

The Guardian

Little by little, interrupted by jailbreaks and hair's-breadth escapes, Dillinger feels Purvis's net closing in.

Independent

The character seems only a hair's-breadth away from Napoleon Dynamite.

The New York Times

But we can still delight in Fo's hair's-breadth combination of political exposé and pungent vaudeville.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "hair's breadth", consider the context to ensure it accurately conveys the intended degree of closeness or narrowness. For example, use it to describe a close victory, a near disaster, or a slight difference.

Common error

Avoid using "hair's breadth" to describe significant differences or large distances. This phrase specifically denotes something very small or close, not a general approximation.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "hair's breadth" functions primarily as a noun, often used adverbially with prepositions like "by" or "within" to modify verbs. Ludwig confirms its grammatical correctness and usability.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Science

10%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Wiki

4%

Academia

3%

Reference

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "hair's breadth" is a common and grammatically correct way to describe a very small distance or margin. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is suitable for various contexts, most frequently appearing in news and media. Its purpose is to emphasize how narrow or close something is, often conveying a sense of near-miss or slight difference. While alternatives like "narrow margin" or "close call" exist, "hair's breadth" provides a vivid and widely understood expression.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

slight difference

Focuses on the minimal distinction between two things.

narrow margin

Focuses on the smallness of the difference or space.

by a whisker

An idiomatic alternative emphasizing a very small margin.

near miss

Highlights the avoidance of an undesirable outcome.

close call

Emphasizes the nearness to danger or failure.

just barely

Emphasizes the minimal amount by which something was achieved.

slim chance

Indicates a low probability of success.

a shade

Suggests a barely perceptible difference.

a touch

Implies a small amount or degree.

a scintilla

Highlights a tiny amount or degree.

FAQs

How can I use "hair's breadth" in a sentence?

You can use "hair's breadth" to describe a very small distance or margin, such as "The car missed the pedestrian by a "hair's breadth"" or "The election was won by a "hair's breadth"".

What are some alternatives to "hair's breadth"?

Alternatives include "narrow margin", "close call", or "near miss" depending on the context.

Is it more common to say "by a hair's breadth" or "within a hair's breadth"?

Both phrases are used, but "by a "hair's breadth"" is slightly more common when describing how something was achieved or avoided. "Within a "hair's breadth"" is used to describe proximity.

What does it mean to escape "by a hair's breadth"?

To escape "by a "hair's breadth"" means to narrowly avoid a dangerous or undesirable situation. It implies a very close call.