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pull off a narrow victory

[/pʊl ɔf ə ˈnæroʊ ˈvɪktəri/]
verb phrase
conquistar uma vitória apertada
1. To achieve a win by a small margin; to succeed in winning despite difficult circumstances or close competition
The team pulled off a narrow victory in the final seconds of the game.
O time conquistou uma vitória apertada nos últimos segundos do jogo.
2. To accomplish a difficult task with minimal advantage or by a slim chance
She pulled off a narrow victory in the election, winning by only 200 votes.
Ela conquistou uma vitória apertada na eleição, vencendo por apenas 200 votos.
NYC Slang
clutch win / clutch victory
Synonyms
win by a narrow marginscrape bywin by a hairachieve a close victorywin by the skin of one's teeth
Antonyms
lose by a wide marginbe soundly defeatedwin by a landslidewin decisively

Regional Variations

General Brazilian
conquistar uma vitória apertada / vencer por pouco
Most common usage in Brazilian Portuguese
Rio de Janeiro
vencer de arrancada / ganhar por uma margem pequena
Regional variation with emphasis on last-minute victory
São Paulo
conseguir uma vitória apertada
Slightly more formal variant
Portugal
conquistar uma vitória por pouco / vencer por margem mínima
European Portuguese preference for 'por pouco' or 'margem mínima'

Related Idioms & Phrases

win by a hair
win by a nose
win by the skin of one's teeth
scrape a victory
snatch victory from the jaws of defeat
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