| Nigh |
| About |
| Nearly |
| Short of |
| Virtually |
| Close ... |
| Well-nigh |
| Not quite |
| As good as |
| Just about |
| Practically |
| A bit under |
| Very nearly |
| Approaching |
| Bordering on |
| You just missed! |
| So close to being |
| Close but no cigar |
| Not quite coming to |
| Missed by that much! |
| Consoling word to a loser |
| Missed it by tha-a-at much! |
| Florida band that "nearly" made it? |