verbverb

frôler

graze · brush against

Toucher légèrement quelque chose ou quelqu’un, souvent sans le vouloir, ou passer tout près de quelque chose.

The French verb "frôler" means to graze, brush against, or just barely touch something or someone. It describes a very light or slight contact, often accidental or close but without causing harm or a strong impact.

Examples of usage:

Frôler une voiture en roulant — to brush against a car while driving.
Frôler le danger — to come close to danger (almost encountering or narrowly escaping it).
Elle a frôlé la victoire — she nearly won (came very close).

Synonyms and differences:

Effleurer: Also means to lightly touch or brush, but more delicate and gentle, often poetic (e.g., effleurer la peau = to lightly touch the skin).
Toucher: Means simply "to touch," can be light or firm, without the nuance of just barely.
Ras (used as "être ras de") or "passer près de": Express just barely missing or passing close by but without contact.

So, "frôler" emphasizes a very slight contact or a near miss, implying something was almost touched or nearly happened.