Cut it close

To “cut it close” means to almost not be able to do something, usually because of not having enough time. I didn’t want to do my COVID test on Friday because, let’s say my flight is canceled or delayed or something and let’s say I don’t leave, for whatever reason, until Tuesday. I didn’t want to “cut it too close,” or I didn’t want to be too close to the time cut-off for an acceptable test. He “cut it close” and arrived at 9:10 for the 9:15 meeting time. The team won the game, but they “cut it close” and only won by one point.