by a whisker
by a hair

Well, after he lost by a whisker in 2000, we all found out.

Brothers' is the current sweetheart, but only by a whisker.

Suddenly she realized that he had not relaxed by a whisker.

This strong support from individual union members meant he took the crown by a whisker.

As he only won the leadership by a whisker Ed was right to challenge.

When the suitcase unit was added, it left room for five, but only by a whisker.

Wilson scored by a whisker, the only Met fast enough to have been able to do so.

Bell did pretty much everything right, but missed his target by a whisker.

OK, it's only by a whisker of 1 percent.

Your mother if she saw you, she'd never know her son, unless 'twas by a whisker.

The other major indexes were down at the closing bell - but only by a whisker.

Last night, an American-flagged ship escaped us by a whisker.

Never forget that in 2011 Britain's broadcasting culture was only saved by a whisker.

He'd missed sinking the actual shot by a whisker, but it had been pretty tricky, even so.

So actually Alan Keen did better than average by a whisker.

They must have missed George by a whisker.

At least two rounds had missed Cathy's head by a whisker, the forensic experts said.

Harvey took a quick step backward, however, avoiding the fingers by a whisker.

Similarly, just under 21 percent of the 7,424 elected state legislators are women, which is a record, but just by a whisker.

He can beat us by a whisker in flat seas, but not in chop.

He got away with it - by a whisker - as his team outlasted Yarmouth, 9-8.

His third missed the Hanging Man by a whisker.

He finished second in the 1988 Superstars, losing by a whisker in the final event.

Must have missed the carotid and the jugular by a whisker."

"We missed all three lots by a whisker.