ニアピン

noun

closest to the pin

Golf term for the shot that lands nearest to the hole; often used in competitions or as a prize category.

wasei-eigo (Japanese-coined English), from near pin

• 彼かれはニアピン賞しょうを取とった。

  He won the closest-to-the-pin prize.

noun

very close; just missing; almost making it

Extended colloquial use for being extremely close to success or a target, but falling just short.

• テストの合ごう格かく点てんまであと1点てんだった。まさにニアピンだ。

  I was just one point short of the passing score. That's really a near miss.

• 宝たからくじ、番ばん号ごうが一ひとつ違ちがいでニアピンだった。

  My lottery number was off by one digit — so close!