一篑之功

Explanation: Basketful basket containing soil. That successful before the last basket of soil. Compared to the last one before the success. 　　Source: "The Complete Works of Wang Shou-ren," Volume Services received a basketful of power, not to the nine yards of the abandoned. " 　　Examples: I am comfortable in its external stress of their long life, the occasion of this close call, not loss ~. ★ Ding Zhongjiang "History of the Northern Warlords Cao Kun become prisoner"