Narrowly avoided collision (4,4) Crossword Clue
Answer: NEAR MISS (8 letters)
The answer to the crossword clue "Narrowly avoided collision (4,4)" with 8 letters is "NEAR MISS".Near miss refers to a situation where a collision or disaster was narrowly avoided, often implying that the event was very close but ultimately did not occur. It is commonly used in contexts such as aviation or driving to describe close calls that could have resulted in serious consequences but were avoided at the last moment.
Why “Near Miss” Fits
The clue asks for a phrase (4,4) meaning “narrowly avoided collision.” The answer, NEAR MISS, fits exactly:
- Narrowly avoided collision: A near miss is the standard expression for an incident where two objects (often vehicles, aircraft, or people) come very close to hitting each other but do not actually collide, matching the clue’s description perfectly.
- Direct match: The enumeration (4,4) divides cleanly into “near” (4) and “miss” (4), which is the normal written form of the phrase.
“Near miss” is widely used in safety, transport, and everyday language:
Meaning and usage:
- In aviation, road safety, workplaces, and health & safety reports, a near miss is an event that could have caused harm or damage but didn’t, often used as a warning sign for underlying risk.
- In everyday speech, it captures that feeling of “that was almost a crash/accident.”
Examples:
- “The two cars had a near miss at the junction.”
- “Air traffic control investigated the near miss between the planes.”
- “Several near misses prompted improvements in safety procedures.”
In quick crosswords, clues like “Narrowly avoided collision (4,4)”:
- Are classic definition clues pointing straight to a familiar two-word phrase.
- The wording “narrowly avoided collision” is effectively a plain-English definition of near miss, and the enumeration (4,4) confirms the break.
- Alternative phrases like “close call” (5,4) don’t fit the letter pattern, making NEAR MISS the precise and elegant answer the clue is steering you toward.
