perilously close to

phrase

somewhat formal

: at or to a point where one is in great danger of (something happening)

The company was perilously close to bankruptcy.

She came perilously close to drowning.

Examples of perilously close to in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Just ten weeks later, the American experiment came perilously close to ending in the fields and woods of Upper Manhattan. — Harry Ostrer, New York Daily News, 16 Sep. 2026

That’s perilously close to 20, a number that could put a chill in Los Angeles’ long, steamy love affair with the uber-bougie grocery store chain. — Benjamin Svetkey, HollywoodReporter, 9 Sep. 2026

Tottenham came perilously close to falling out of the Premier League last season, a fate that would have dramatically altered their valuation. — Philip Buckingham, New York Times, 19 Aug. 2026

The modern city has been battered by Israeli aerial bombardment, with some strikes landing perilously close to the columns, Roman baths, and necropolis. — Tessa Solomon, ARTnews.com, 27 July 2026

Rhymes for perilously close to

• accrue
• ado
• ainu
• aircrew
• airscrew
• anew
• askew
• baboo
• babu
• bamboo
• beaucoup
• bijou