come within a rat's hair

[dilermando]

In the sentence below, what does "within a rat's hair" mean?

I came within a rat's hair of sending out a squad of M.P's after him last night.

In the sentence below,what does "come within" mean?

In my opinion I think there's a half -point cut in interest rates still to come. It should come within this year and it ought to be soon.

[bhaisahab]

In the sentence below, what does "within a rat's hair" mean?

I came within a rat's hair of sending out a squad of M.P's after him last night.

In the sentence below,what does "come within" mean?

In my opinion I think there's a half -point cut in interest rates still to come. It should come within this year and it ought to be soon.

There is an expression "within a hair's breadth" the thickness of a hair, meaning "extremely close". "Within a rat's hair." looks like a variation on this, though I have never encountered it.

In your sentence "come within" means "arrive/happen during" (this year).

[dilermando]

There is an expression "within a hair's breadth" the thickness of a hair, meaning "extremely close". "Within a rat's hair." looks like a variation on this, though I have never encountered it.

In your sentence "come within" means "arrive/happen during" (this year).

Thank you bhaisahab,

How may I write the sentence "I came within a rat's hair of sending out a squad of M.P's after him last night.", without using the expression in bold? Let us say, in formal English.

[Anglika]

Thank you bhaisahab,

How may I write the sentence "I came within a rat's hair of sending out a squad of M.P's after him last night.", without using the expression in bold? Let us say, in formal English.

I almost/nearly sent out a squad...

I was within a hair's breadth of sending...

Either would do.