HSK 5 · VERSION 2.0#10
Expressing “Almost” with “chàdiǎn méi”
差点没……
How it works
差点（没） before an undesirable result normally means that the result nearly happened but did not. In this use, 没 may be omitted without changing the basic meaning.
Before a desired result, 差点没 means that the desired result nearly failed to happen; it normally did happen, but only narrowly.
The pattern
差点（没）+ Undesired Result; 差点没 + Desired Result
Example sentences
路上太堵了，我差点没赶上火车。
Traffic was terrible, and I barely caught the train.
他跑得太快了，差点没摔倒。
He ran too fast and almost fell.
那天堵车堵得厉害，我差点没迟到。
Traffic was terrible that day, and I was almost late.
Usage Note Do not treat 没 as meaningless in every sentence. Compare an undesirable result such as 差点没摔倒 ("almost fell") with a desired result such as 差点没赶上 ("almost failed to catch; barely caught").