that was close vs it was close

Both 'that was close' and 'it was close' are correct phrases, but they are used in slightly different contexts. 'That was close' is typically used when referring to a specific event or situation that just happened, while 'it was close' is more general and can refer to a variety of situations. The choice between the two depends on the context and the level of specificity needed.

Last updated: March 29, 2024 • 3977 views

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English to express relief or surprise when narrowly avoiding a negative outcome.

"that was close"

This phrase is used to express relief or surprise when something dangerous or undesirable almost happened but did not. It is often used in response to a close call or a near miss.

Examples:

That was close! I almost dropped my phone.
That was close. The car almost hit the pedestrian.
That was close. The deadline for the project is tomorrow.
That was close. I almost missed my flight.
That was close. I almost forgot my keys.

Show examples from the web [+]

Hairy Lion - that was close to a fail. ... Initially, we wanted to kill this print, but it worked well in the end. Later we learned, that it happens quite often, ...
Sep 6, 2018 ... THAT WAS CLOSE! REWARD REPORTING OF CYBERSECURITY. “NEAR MISSES”. JONATHAN BAIR ... becomes obvious: how long can we keep saying “that was close!
4 letter answer(s) to "that was close!" PHEW. To express /exclaim relief surprise fatigue. WHEW. A sound like a half ...

Alternatives:

Phew, that was a close one.
Wow, that was a close call.
Almost didn't make it.
Barely made it.
Narrowly avoided disaster.

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English to indicate a close or narrow outcome without specifying the event or situation.

"it was close"

This phrase is more general and can be used to describe a variety of situations where the outcome was narrowly decided. It does not provide specific details about the event or situation.

Examples:

It was close, but we made it on time.
It was close, but we managed to finish the project.
It was close, but we narrowly avoided a disaster.
It was close, but we got the last tickets.
It was close, but we won in the end.

Alternatives:

We barely made it.
The outcome was uncertain.
We narrowly escaped.
We just made it.
We were on the edge.

Our Customers Love Us!

We have an average rating of 4.79 stars based on 283125 votes, and

4.9 Excellent - Reviews 2.137

"7 years without any disappointment. Always 100% satisfied. You guys are the best in the world at what you do. Thank you so much :)"

Zubair
from Bangladesh

"I wasn't aware of this service, it's fascinating and more reliable than standard IA tools available on the internet"

Arturo
from Mexico

"In a world of text messages and online communication, this is great to have as a live tool. Thank you."

Selena
from USA

"Wow, it's just so excellent. I never would have believed I could have a sure and excellent English companion. Thanks, TextRanch."

Ifiok
from Nigeria

"This is my first time using TextRanch, and I like how the editors take time to correct my text. To everyone who has never used TextRanch before, I highly recommend trying it."

Wilson
from France

"It is an amazing source of feedback because, as a non-native speaker, I really need to have a reliable helper correct my text."

Susan
from Germany

that was close vs it was close

"that was close"

"it was close"

Related Comparisons