The Collaborative International Dictionary
Ace \Ace\ ([=a]s), n.; pl. Aces ([=a]"s[e^]z). [OE. as, F. as, fr. L. as, assis, unity, copper coin, the unit of coinage. Cf. As.]
A unit; a single point or spot on a card or die; the card or die so marked; as, the ace of diamonds.
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Hence: A very small quantity or degree; a particle; an atom; a jot.
I 'll not wag an ace further.
--Dryden. -
(Sport) A single point won by a stroke, as in handball, rackets, etc.; in tennis, frequently, a point won by a service stroke.
To bate an ace, to make the least abatement. [Obs.]
Within an ace of, very near; on the point of.
--W. Irving.
Wiktionary
adv. (context idiomatic English) very near; on the point of
Usage examples of "within an ace of".
If anybody could finger a man for assassination, and come within an ace of doing it, it was UMC.
Parkinson was hauled before the Privy Council for questioning and came within an ace of being dispatched in irons to Australia before the charges against him were quietly dropped.
We came within an ace of falling down yesterday evening, though - it was sheer luck we caught up with the girl.
Sensing that he was within an ace of unconsciousness, he put his hand out to support himself, but his palm slid on the slick tiles, and he fell, landing on his side.
In fact, the chevalier was within an ace of reaching it before his friends anticipated.
In desperation, knowing his fragile mental defences were within an ace of collapsing, his eyes alighted on the clothes stand to the left of the door.
This is the story of how Bull Coxine and his crew of cutthroat pirates came within an ace of taking control of the space lanes by threatening to destroy the great Solar Alliance, and how Tom Corbett and his two pals, Roger Manning and Astro of the Polaris unit, helped to foil the giant buccaneer's desperate scheme.
The man was a Roman gladiator who had headed up a revolt of slaves and had come within an ace of putting down the whole empire.
That was why she'd waited, used her eyes on them for all she was worth, been within an ace of getting away with it--and then at the last minute he himself had to snatch the chance away from her, cut himself off from help.