By the skin of one's teeth definitions
| Word backwards | yb eht niks fo s'eno hteet |
|---|---|
| Part of speech | This phrase functions as an adverbial phrase. |
| Syllabic division | by the skin of one's teeth |
| Plural | The plural of "by the skin of one's teeth" is "by the skin of their teeth." |
| Total letters | 20 |
| Vogais (3) | e,i,o |
| Consonants (8) | b,y,t,h,s,k,n,f |
Definition of "By the Skin of One's Teeth"
Origin
The phrase "by the skin of one's teeth" is a common English expression that refers to a narrow escape or victory, often by a very small margin. The origins of this saying can be traced back to the Bible in the book of Job, where Job expresses his extreme suffering by saying, "My bone cleaveth to my skin and to my flesh, and I am escaped with the skin of my teeth." This phrase is often used to describe situations where someone barely avoids disaster or failure.
Meaning
When someone says they escaped "by the skin of their teeth," they are conveying that they just managed to succeed or survive, often in a close call that could have easily gone the other way. It implies that the outcome was uncertain and relied on a stroke of luck or a small margin of difference.
Usage
This expression is commonly used in everyday language to describe situations where someone narrowly avoids a negative outcome. It can be applied to a variety of scenarios, from narrowly passing a test to narrowly avoiding an accident. The phrase captures the sense of relief and gratitude that comes with surviving a dangerous or challenging situation.
Close Call and Barely Survived are synonymous with "by the skin of one's teeth," highlighting the idea of a narrow escape. It conveys the sense of just barely making it through a difficult situation, underscoring the element of luck or chance involved.
Barely making it through a challenge or narrowly avoiding disaster are common experiences that people can relate to. The phrase "by the skin of one's teeth" captures this feeling of barely scraping by, adding a vivid image to the idea of a close call or near miss.
By the skin of one's teeth Examples
- She managed to pass the exam by the skin of her teeth.
- The team won the game by the skin of their teeth.
- He narrowly avoided missing his flight by the skin of his teeth.
- The car barely made it through the flooded road by the skin of its teeth.
- They completed the project just in time by the skin of their teeth.
- The hiker escaped the bear attack by the skin of his teeth.
- The company stayed afloat during the recession by the skin of its teeth.
- She dodged a bullet by the skin of her teeth.
- He avoided crashing his bike by the skin of his teeth.
- The politician survived the scandal by the skin of his teeth.