功亏一篑: (比喻一件大事只差最后一点人力物力而不能成功) lack a basketful -- work not completed; abandon work that has been seriously undertaken; be just one step short of success [completion]; between the cup and the lip
世事往往会功亏一篑: there's many a slip'twixt the cuand the lipthere's many a slip‘twixt the cup and the lip
几乎不: barelyblue moonhardly everlittlescarcely ad. almost notscarelyseems not