# nearly man

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/nearly-man
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

A man who fails to achieve the success or status that he might potentially have had.

## Examples

- He is a talented player but always remains a nearly man.
- Despite reaching the final three times, he is considered a nearly man who never quite wins the championship.
- History often forgets the nearly man, focusing instead on the victors who secured the titles he so narrowly missed.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.