БЫЛО

was just going to, was just on the point of;

прекратившийся ~ дождь вдруг снова полил the rain, which had been about to stop, suddenly came on even harder;

он чуть ~ не ушел he was just on the point of leaving;

чуть ~ не very nearly;

я чуть ~ не забыл i almost forgot

1. гл.; 3-е лицо ед. прош. вр. от быть

2. частица (почти, вот-вот) nearly, on the point of

он было стал засыпать — he had nearly fallen asleep, he was on the point of falling asleep, he was just going to fall asleep

я чуть было не сказал — I was on the point of saying, I nearly said

чуть было не — (very) nearly