one more; another; the other; not quite; not very good
stepwise; one step at a time
to step forward; to take a step forward; to start on a project, etc.; to take the first step with
to take a step backward; to step back (i.e. to re-think something); to distance oneself (from); to behave humbly; to budge (a little); to make one concession
just this side of; one step short of; on the brink
to take a step backward; to retreat a step
one more; another; not quite; close run; just falling short of success
a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step
to be slightly inferior; to be a degree worse; to give an inch; to make a concession; to concede a point
make one wrong move and...; take one wrong step and...