“A miss is as good as a mile”: meaning, origin and examples
What it means
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.
Where it comes from
The origin of the phrase is attributed to English writer William Camden, who used a similar expression in the early 17th century.
Examples
- She missed the train by ten seconds, but 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.
- They lost the final by a single point. A miss is as good as a mile.
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