that was close

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "that was close" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to express relief or acknowledgment after a near miss or a situation that could have ended badly. Example: "When the car swerved past us, I couldn't help but exclaim, 'That was close!'"

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

52 human-written examples

"Whew, that was close," Udoh said.

The New York Times - Sports

It was an exciting match that was close throughout.

The New York Times

67 mins My word, that was close from Marin.

The Guardian - Sport

"But many of us say: 'Whew, that was close!

The New York Times - Sports

For me, that was close to a miracle.

The Guardian

About friendships, partnerships, and sharing "that was close" moments.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

8 human-written examples

"They need a place that is close".

The New York Times

"Did we have situations that were close?

The New York Times

Pick a dance class that is close.

WikiHow

Includes organizations that are closed.

Cornell University

Need proof that's closer to home?

Science Magazine

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "that was close", consider the specific context to ensure it accurately reflects the situation. Alternatives like "that was a near thing" or "that was a narrow escape" "that was a narrow escape" may provide a more precise description.

Common error

While "that was close" is widely understood, overuse in highly formal writing can make your writing sound conversational. In such cases, prefer more formal alternatives like "the outcome was nearly unfavorable" or "a negative result was narrowly avoided".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "that was close" functions primarily as an exclamatory expression. It's used to convey a feeling of relief or surprise after narrowly avoiding a negative outcome. As Ludwig AI indicates, the phrase is correct and usable, and it serves to acknowledge a near miss.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Academia

15%

Science

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Wiki

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "that was close" is a versatile and widely used exclamatory phrase to express relief after narrowly avoiding a negative outcome. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability. While suitable for various contexts, it's most common in news and media, and academic settings. Consider more formal alternatives like "a negative result was narrowly avoided" in professional writing. Remember to emphasize the feeling of relief and use the phrase appropriately to convey a narrow escape.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

phew, that was close

Adds an interjection indicating relief.

that was a near thing

Replaces "close" with "near thing", emphasizing the narrowness of the escape.

that was a narrow escape

More directly states the situation as an escape from danger or an undesirable outcome.

that was a close call

A common idiom with the same meaning, but slightly more informal.

we almost had a problem

More understated and focuses on the potential problem.

that was touch and go

Indicates a precarious situation with an uncertain outcome.

that was a tight squeeze

Emphasizes the difficulty of avoiding the negative outcome.

that came very close

Focuses on how near the event was to happening.

we nearly didn't make it

Expresses the nearness of failure or a negative result.

that was cutting it fine

Implies a risky maneuver with little margin for error.

FAQs

How can I use "that was close" in a sentence?

You can use "that was close" to express relief or acknowledgment after a near miss or situation that could have ended badly. For example, "When the car swerved past us, I couldn't help but exclaim, 'That was close!'"

What are some alternatives to saying "that was close"?

You can use alternatives like "that was a near miss", "that was a close call", or ""that was a narrow escape"" depending on the context.

Is "that was close" formal or informal?

"That was close" is generally considered neutral and can be used in both formal and informal contexts, although more formal alternatives may be preferred in highly formal writing.

What does "that was close" mean?

"That was close" means that a negative outcome or danger was narrowly avoided. It expresses the feeling of relief after realizing how close one came to experiencing something undesirable.