Pronunciation: [ɐ hˈe͡əz bɹˈɛdθ] (IPA)
The phrase "a hair's breadth" is commonly used to describe something that is very close or narrowly avoided. The spelling of this phrase can be a bit tricky for non-native English speakers due to the silent "h" and the use of the apostrophe. The IPA phonetic transcription of this phrase is /ə hɛrz brɛθ/. The "h" in "hair's" is not pronounced, and the apostrophe represents the omission of the letter "e" in "hair's." The word "breadth" is pronounced with a short "e" sound, like "breth."
A hair's breadth refers to an extremely small or minute distance, space, or margin, often used metaphorically to illustrate how close two things or actions are to each other. The term derives from the literal measurement of a single hair, which is incredibly thin and barely perceptible to the naked eye.
In a figurative sense, a hair's breadth is used to portray an extreme level of closeness, implying that there is virtually no separation or distinction between two entities. It suggests that the difference or gap between them is so infinitesimal that it is barely noticeable, comparable to the width of a single hair. The phrase is often employed to emphasize that a particular situation, decision, or outcome rests on an incredibly delicate or narrow margin.
For instance, one might say that two rival sports teams are separated by a hair's breadth in terms of skill or performance, meaning their abilities are almost identical and that victory could easily swing in either direction. Alternatively, a person could use the expression to describe how they narrowly avoided a potentially disastrous outcome, emphasizing that they escaped inconvenience or harm by a hair's breadth. Overall, the phrase "a hair's breadth" serves as a vivid metaphor to highlight the extreme proximity or proximity between two closely aligned entities.