Disaster narrowly avoided on earth in giant houses (4,5)
I believe the answer is:
near thing
'disaster narrowly avoided' is the definition.
I can't tell whether this definition defines the answer.
'on earth in giant houses' is the wordplay.
'houses' indicates the answer is hidden within the clue (part of the clue houses the answer).
'NEAR THING' can be found hidden inside 'on earth in giant'.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for near thing that I've seen before include "Even the short-sighted could plainly see that" , "Lucky escape" , "Knife-edge event" , "Narrow escape, close shave" , "Almost a nasty incident" .)