Explaining "A miss is as good as a mile"

Reviewed and edited by

Anwar Kareem 02/11/2024, 06:04

English.me team member

What does it mean?

The phrase "A miss is as good as a mile" means that a near miss or close failure is as bad as a complete one. In other words, if you fail, it doesn't matter how close you were to succeeding; the result is the same—failure.

Tone

The tone of the phrase is often philosophical or resigned, suggesting acceptance of the outcome and highlighting the importance of actual success rather than close attempts.

Origin

The origin of the phrase is attributed to English writer William Camden, who used a similar expression in the early 17th century.

Examples of usage

She almost made it to the finals, but as they say, a miss is as good as a mile.
Even though the team scored several times, they still lost the game. In the end, a miss is as good as a mile.
You were so close to passing the exam, but unfortunately, a miss is as good as a mile.