striking distance

striking distance (countable and uncountable, plural striking distances)

1. (military) A distance at which a soldier, military force, vessel, etc. is sufficiently near to be able to attack an opponent.
   • 1845, James Fenimore Cooper, chapter 19, in Satanstoe:

     "Nay, sir, a soldier, who is about to be posted within striking distance of his enemy, can never speak, with confidence, of separations that are to be short."

   • 1900, A[rthur] Conan Doyle, “Paardeberg”, in The Great Boer War, London: Smith, Elder, & Co., […], →OCLC, page 337:

     The two brigades at either end of the Boer lines had lost no chance of pushing in, and now they had come within striking distance.

2. (figurative) A distance at which one is sufficiently near to an objective to have an opportunity to achieve it.
   • 1917, Victor Appleton, chapter 4, in Tom Swift in the Land of Wonders:

     I'm working on an invention of a new aeroplane stabilizer, and if I go now it will be just at a time when I am within striking distance of success.

   • 1990 November 12, Christopher Redman et al., “Europe An Island No More Hello! Allo!”, in Time:

     The probe breakthrough confirmed that French and British tunnelers were within striking distance of completing the first tunnel under the English Channel.

• striking range

• “striking distance”, in OneLook Dictionary Search.