Crossword Genius

For the leaderless, getting out of the ground was a narrow escape (4,5)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

near thing

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'narrow escape' is the definition.
(something which nearly went badly)

I don't understand the rest of the clue.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for near thing that I've seen before include "almost a disaster" , "dangerous" , "Something that barely avoids failure or disaster" , "Narrow escape, missed by a small margin (4.5)" , "Even the short-sighted could plainly see that" .)

I've seen this clue in the Sydney Morning Herald.
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