close shave: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Informal, figurative
Quick answer
What does “close shave” mean?
A situation where something dangerous, harmful, or unpleasant was only just avoided.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A situation where something dangerous, harmful, or unpleasant was only just avoided.
A very narrow escape from an accident, disaster, or failure.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant lexical or grammatical differences. Both use the idiom identically.
Connotations
Identical connotations of a lucky escape.
Frequency
Equally common and understood in both varieties.
Grammar
How to Use “close shave” in a Sentence
[Subject] had a close shave with [danger].It was a close shave for [person/thing].That was a close shave!Vocabulary
Collocations
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used to describe narrowly avoiding a financial loss, a failed project, or losing a client.
Academic
Rare in formal academic prose; may appear in informal narrative or case study descriptions.
Everyday
Common in spoken narratives about accidents, near misses in traffic, or avoiding personal mishaps.
Technical
Not used in technical domains; remains a figurative, colloquial expression.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “close shave”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “close shave”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “close shave”
- Using 'close shave' to mean a literal, good shave (e.g., 'I had a close shave this morning').
- Confusing with 'close call' in grammar: 'It was a close shave' (correct), not 'It was close shave' (incorrect article).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is exclusively an idiom. For literal shaving, you would say 'a close shave' is not standard; use 'a close shave' only figuratively.
It is an informal, colloquial expression. Use more formal alternatives like 'narrow escape' in formal writing.
It functions as a noun phrase, typically following an article (a/the) and a verb like 'have', 'be', or 'call'.
No significant regional variants. It is used identically in British, American, and other major dialects of English.
A situation where something dangerous, harmful, or unpleasant was only just avoided.
Close shave: in British English it is pronounced /ˌkləʊs ˈʃeɪv/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌkloʊs ˈʃeɪv/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “a close shave”
- “by the skin of one's teeth (similar concept)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine shaving so close you almost cut yourself — that's the feeling of the idiom: a very near miss.
Conceptual Metaphor
AVOIDANCE IS A PHYSICAL NARROW GAP (The small distance between the razor and the skin maps onto the small margin of safety in an event).
Practice
Quiz
In which situation would you most likely use 'a close shave'?