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Difference between Nearest thing and Very near thing

nearest thing, thesaid of smth. that is very much like a par ticular type of thing:

  • Soho is the nearest thing in Central London to a red light district.

very near thing, a

1. a dangerous situation that a person just manages to avoid:

  • The list of what could have gone badly wrong is a long one. It was certainly a very near thing.

2. said of an election, competition, etc. barely won because of almost equal chances of the contenders:

  • “Do you think he’s going to get in?” “It’ll be a very near thing because the opposition will be so strong.”