By the skin of your teeth: Learn what the means through example!

What does “By the skin of your teeth” mean?

"By the skin of your teeth" means that you barely or narrowly escaped a difficult or dangerous situation.

What context can I use the in?

Example

He passed the exam by the skin of his teeth.

Example

She managed to catch the train by the skin of her teeth.

Example

The team won the game by the skin of their teeth

Is “By the skin of your teeth” an expression, an idiom, or a proverb?

“By the skin of your teeth” is a proverb. A proverb is a short saying that teaches us something important or gives us advice. Unlike an idiom, it’s easy to understand even if it uses figurative language.

How would I use “By the skin of your teeth” effectively in context?

You can use "By the skin of your teeth" to describe a situation where someone barely or narrowly escapes a difficult or dangerous situation. It emphasizes the close call and the slim margin of success. For example, if a friend tells you they passed an exam with a very low score, you might say, 'Wow, you passed "by the skin of your teeth"!'

• 1. Academic

  He passed the exam by the skin of his teeth.

• 2. Transportation

  She managed to catch the train by the skin of her teeth.

• 3. Sports

  The team won the game by the skin of their teeth.

Similar phrases to “By the skin of your teeth”:

Narrowly escape

To barely avoid a dangerous or difficult situation

Example

She narrowly escaped the car accident.

Close call

A situation where someone narrowly avoids a disaster or failure

Example

It was a close call, but she made it in time for the flight.

On thin ice

In a risky or precarious situation

Example

After missing several deadlines, he knew he was on thin ice with his boss.

Dodge a bullet

To narrowly avoid a negative or harmful outcome

Example

She dodged a bullet by quitting her toxic job.

Good things to know:

Where does the phrase “By the skin of your teeth” come from?

The origin of the phrase "By the skin of your teeth" is unknown.

Is “By the skin of your teeth” common in everyday conversation?

Yes, "By the skin of your teeth" is a common idiom in everyday conversation. People often use it to describe situations where they narrowly avoided failure or disaster.

What tone does “By the skin of your teeth” have?

"By the skin of your teeth" conveys a tone of relief and astonishment. It's often used to express surprise at the narrowness of a successful outcome.

Can “By the skin of your teeth” be used in informal and formal settings?

Yes, "By the skin of your teeth" can be used in both informal and formal settings. It's a versatile expression that conveys the idea of narrowly escaping a difficult situation. You can use it in everyday conversations with friends, family, and colleagues, as well as in more formal situations such as presentations, meetings, or professional correspondence.

Can it be used by itself, or is it usually part of a sentence?

It's commonly used as part of a sentence to convey its full meaning. For example, 'He passed the exam "by the skin of his teeth".' However, in informal conversations, people might understand the phrase even if used alone, like saying 'Phew, "by the skin of your teeth"!' to express relief.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Synonyms

• barely make it
• just scrape by
• escape by a hair's breadth
• survive by a whisker
• squeak through

Antonyms

• easily succeed
• sail through
• win comfortably
• avoid danger completely
• have a wide margin of victory