How Do You Spell CLOSE CALL?

Pronunciation: [klˈə͡ʊs kˈɔːl] (IPA)

The phrase "close call" is spelled with a silent 'e' in 'close' and a long 'o' sound in 'call'. In IPA phonetic transcription, this is /kləʊs kɔːl/. The spelling of the word is influenced by the English language's complex history of borrowing words from other languages, particularly French, over hundreds of years. Despite its unusual spelling, "close call" is a common idiom that is used to describe a situation that was nearly a disaster, but ultimately turned out okay.

CLOSE CALL Meaning and Definition

1. Close call is a noun phrase used to describe a situation or event that narrowly avoids a negative outcome, often an accident, disaster, or unfortunate consequence. It refers to a scenario where someone or something is perilously close to a harmful or undesirable event but manages to avoid it by a narrow margin or stroke of luck. The phrase implies that the situation was extremely close or near to happening, highlighting the element of immediacy and danger involved.

   A close call typically elicits a sense of relief or gratitude due to the potential severity of the situation. It emphasizes the fine line between an unfavorable incident and narrowly escaping it unharmed. This term is commonly used to describe various occurrences, including but not limited to near-miss accidents, evading danger, escaping injury, or narrowly avoiding a disaster.

   A close call may occur in diverse contexts, such as sports, traffic incidents, work-related incidents, personal experiences, or emergency situations. It can also be a subjective perception, varying depending on individuals and their perception of danger. The phrase has become ingrained in everyday language to depict instances where individuals or objects find themselves in precarious positions, only to emerge from the situation seemingly unscathed. The expression "close call" reinforces the significance of the intense proximity to a potentially adverse outcome and highlights the relief associated with narrowly averting one.

Common Misspellings for CLOSE CALL

• xlose call
• vlose call
• flose call
• dlose call
• ckose call
• cpose call
• coose call
• clise call
• clkse call
• cllse call
• clpse call
• cl0se call
• cl9se call
• cloae call
• cloze call
• cloxe call
• clode call
• cloee call
• clowe call
• closecall

Etymology of CLOSE CALL

The phrase "close call" is derived from the noun "call", which in this context refers to a summons or appeal. The word "close" in this phrase means near or narrowly escaping something. Together, "close call" refers to a situation where someone or something narrowly avoids danger or harm. It originated in the mid-19th century, originally used in the context of sporting events to describe a narrowly missed shot or opportunity. Over time, the phrase's usage expanded to encompass any situation involving a narrow escape or near miss.

Idioms with the word CLOSE CALL

• a close call The idiom "a close call" refers to a situation where something dangerous or potentially harmful almost happens but is narrowly avoided. It implies a situation in which there was a very small margin between success and failure, or between safety and danger.
• a close call/shave A close call/shave is a situation where something dangerous or unfortunate nearly happened, but was narrowly avoided.
• a close call, at a close/near thing A "close call" or "a close/near thing" is an incident or situation in which a disaster or serious consequence was narrowly avoided. It refers to a situation in which the outcome could have been much worse if not for a lucky break or quick thinking.
• close call A close call is a situation in which a disaster or serious accident is narrowly avoided.

Similar spelling words for CLOSE CALL

• classically,
• classical,
• close-set,
• claw-back clause,
• mercedes-benz cla-class,
• close set,
• class act,
• gel gloss,
• clay glaze,
• closely,
• glass gall.

Plural form of CLOSE CALL is CLOSE CALLS