一ひと足あし違ちがい

noun

barely missing; just missing

Used when someone just misses a person, train, bus, etc. by a narrow margin. Often appears in phrases like 一足違いで会えなかった or 一足違いで乗り遅れた.

• 彼かれは一ひと足あし違ちがいで電でん車しゃに乗のり遅おくれた。

  He missed the train by a hair's breadth.