What does “A Hair’s Breadth” mean?
"A Hair's Breadth" means a very small distance or amount.
What context can I use the in?
Example
He missed the target by a hair's breadth.
Example
The two cars narrowly avoided each other by a hair's breadth.
Example
She won the race by a hair's breadth
Is “A Hair’s Breadth” an expression, an idiom, or a proverb?
“A Hair’s Breadth” is a proverb. A proverb is a short saying that teaches us something important or gives us advice. Unlike an idiom, it’s easy to understand even if it uses figurative language.
How would I use “A Hair’s Breadth” effectively in context?
You can use "A Hair's Breadth" to describe a very small distance or amount. It emphasizes how close something was to happening or how narrowly something was avoided. For example, if someone narrowly avoids an accident, you might say, 'They missed each other by a hair's breadth.'
- 1Sports
He missed the goal by a hair's breadth.
- 2Driving
The two cars narrowly avoided a collision by a hair's breadth.
- 3Competition
She won the race by a hair's breadth.
Similar phrases to “A Hair’s Breadth”:
Good things to know:
Where does the phrase “A Hair’s Breadth” come from?
The origin of the phrase "A Hair's Breadth" is unknown.
Is “A Hair’s Breadth” common in everyday conversation?
"A Hair's Breadth" is not a very common phrase in everyday conversation, but it is still used occasionally. It is more commonly used in written language or in specific contexts where precision and accuracy are important.
What tone does “A Hair’s Breadth” have?
"A Hair's Breadth" conveys a tone of closeness and precision. It highlights the narrowness of a situation or the fine line between success and failure.
Can “A Hair’s Breadth” be used in informal and formal settings?
"A Hair's Breadth" is a relatively formal expression. It is more likely to be used in formal writing or in situations where precision and accuracy are important, such as technical discussions or legal documents.
Can it be used by itself, or is it usually part of a sentence?
"A Hair's Breadth" is typically used as part of a sentence to convey its full meaning. For example, 'He missed the target by "a hair's breadth".' However, in informal conversations, people might understand the phrase even if used alone, like saying 'That was close, just "a hair's breadth"!' to express a narrow escape.
