within striking distance

Etymology:

• The phrase originated from the context of physical combat or warfare. "Striking distance" being the range at which a person or weapon can effectively attack or strike an opponent. If a target or objective is "within striking distance," it is close enough that one could physically reach out and strike or attack it and thus, vulnerable or accessible. The earliest known usage of the phrase in this sense dates back to the late 19th century, specifically appearing in an 1893 edition of the New York Tribune. Over the last century the idiom’s usage has expanded to encompass, in a broader sense, a goal, objective, aim, or intention that is within one’s grasp.