How to Say ‘Just barely missed’ in German
Ganz knapp daneben
gahnts knahp dah-NAY-ben
[gahnts knahp dah-NAY-ben]
💬 Usage Tip: This phrase is idiomatic and very useful: literally "very narrowly next to it," meaning the shot just missed.
🇩🇪 In Germany: Ideal for reacting to a World Cup 2026 strike that brushes past the post.
Phrase Breakdown
Ganz
[gahnts]
very
Adds emphasis to knapp, making the near miss sound stronger.
Ganz knapp daneben, das war Pech.
Just barely wide, that was unlucky.
knapp
[knahp]
close
Describes how near the shot came to being successful.
Ganz knapp daneben beim Freistoß.
Just barely wide on the free kick.
daneben
[dah-NAY-ben]
wide / off target
Shows the ball missed the goal, though only by a little.
Ganz knapp daneben in der Nachspielzeit.
Just barely wide in stoppage time.
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