narrowly missing

USAGE SUMMARY

"narrowly missing" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It is used to describe narrowly avoiding something, i.e., almost missing something. For example, "I narrowly missed being hit by a car while crossing the street."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Suddenly, a sandbag fell from above, narrowly missing Dave.

The New Yorker

Mukwege fell to the ground narrowly missing the bullets aimed at him.

Independent

Wahlberg expressed frustration at narrowly missing out on the opportunity to produce the movie.

Independent

He had grown up in Maryland and graduated from Harvard in 1670, narrowly missing Samuel Parris.

The New Yorker

Apart from Dwain Chambers narrowly missing out on gold for Swaziland in the synchronised swimming.

Independent

At that point, police sharpshooters opened fire, narrowly missing Mr. Khan.

The New York Times

It easily climbed to $13.07 million, narrowly missing the high estimate.

The New York Times - Arts

Oosthuizen then finished par-birdie, narrowly missing an eagle at the 18th after driving the green.

Independent

After narrowly missing out on two awards, Tomkins has to win this.

The Guardian - Sport

Two went through windows of the secretariat building, narrowly missing several workers.

The New York Times

Last year, 50 pounds of plaster fell from the ceiling, narrowly missing Ms. Russell.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "narrowly missing" to convey a sense of near-miss or close call. It adds drama and emphasizes the precariousness of the situation.

Common error

Avoid using "narrowly missing" with abstract concepts where physical proximity doesn't apply. For example, instead of "narrowly missing the point", opt for phrases like "almost understood" or "misunderstood slightly".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "narrowly missing" functions as an adverbial modifier describing the verb. It indicates the manner in which an action (or inaction) occurred. According to Ludwig, this is a correct and usable phrase.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

85%

Wiki

8%

Formal & Business

2%

Less common in

Science

1%

Encyclopedias

1%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "narrowly missing" is a correct and widely used phrase to describe a close call or near-miss. As confirmed by Ludwig, it is grammatically sound and appears frequently in news and media sources, although it also finds use in more informal contexts. While versatile, it's important to avoid using it with abstract concepts where physical proximity isn't relevant. Alternatives such as "barely avoiding" or "almost hit" can be used to add variety to your writing. Remember to use "narrowly missing" to give readers a feel of something almost happened.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

barely avoiding

Focuses on the act of evasion, suggesting a close call.

just missed

Emphasizes the slight margin by which something was missed.

almost hit

Highlights the near impact or collision.

nearly avoided

Indicates a successful, but close, act of avoidance.

close to hitting

Focuses on the proximity to a potential impact.

came close to missing

Highlights how near the act of missing was.

scarcely missed

Emphasizes how little it was missed.

by a whisker

Idiomatic expression indicating a very small margin.

within an inch of

Emphasizes how close something was to happen.

just shy of

Suggests that something didn't quite reach a target.

FAQs

How can I use "narrowly missing" in a sentence?

"Narrowly missing" describes a situation where something almost occurred or was almost hit. For example, "The car "narrowly missing" the pedestrian on the crosswalk".

What are some alternatives to "narrowly missing"?

Depending on the context, you could use phrases like "barely avoiding", "just missed", or "almost hit".

Is it correct to say "narrowly missed to" instead of "narrowly missing"?

No, "narrowly missed to" is grammatically incorrect. The correct form is "narrowly missing". For example, "He was "narrowly missing" his target", not "He narrowly missed to hit his target".

What does "narrowly missing out on" mean?

"Narrowly missing out on" means almost achieving something, but ultimately not succeeding. For example, "The team was "narrowly missing" out on a playoff spot".