(By the) skin of your teeth

Definitions

• narrowly, barely
  To describe a close call or a situation where someone just manages to succeed or survive by a very small margin

Examples of (By the) skin of your teeth

• Sarah barely passed her driving test, she said it felt like she was driving with the skin of her teeth.

  This idiom is used to describe a situation in which someone barely succeeds or avoids failure. In this example, Sarah used this expression to convey that she barely passed her driving test and it felt like she was driving with extreme difficulty.

• The company narrowly avoided bankruptcy thanks to some last-minute financial maneuvering. It was a close call, but they pulled through by the skin of their teeth.

  This idiom is used to describe a situation in which someone or something barely avoids a negative outcome. In this example, the company narrowly avoided bankruptcy and managed to salvage their financial situation at the very last moment, by the skin of their teeth.

• I accidentally spilled coffee all over my laptop, but I managed to dry it out and fix it by the skin of its teeth.

  This idiom is used to describe a situation in which something is damaged or broken, but is later repaired or saved from further harm. In this example, the speaker's laptop was damaged by a spill, but they managed to save it from further harm by drying it out and fixing it, by the skin of its teeth.

• Emma barely finished her project on time, she said it felt like she was working with the skin of her teeth until the very last minute.

  This idiom is used to describe a situation in which someone barely finishes something, working up until the very last minute. In this example, Emma used this expression to convey that she barely finished her project on time and it felt like she was working up until the very last minute, by the skin of her teeth.

• After a long and arduous examination, Emily narrowly passed by the skin of her teeth.

  The idiom "by the skin of your teeth" is used to describe a situation where someone barely manages to succeed or avoid failure. In this example, Emily put in a lot of effort during the examination, but she just barely passed. It suggests that Emily's performance in the exam was extremely close to failing, and she passed only by the narrowest of margins.

• John fought off a deadly infection with the help of antibiotics, barely escaping by the skin of his teeth.

  This example represents a medical emergency where John was very sick and near death. The use of the idiom "by the skin of your teeth" highlights that John's recovery from the infection was very close to failing, and he only survived by the narrowest of margins.

• The project was on the verge of collapse, but the team managed to complete it with the collaboration of every member, by the skin of their teeth.

  This example illustrates a scenario where a project was headed towards failure due to various reasons. However, by working together and putting in maximum efforts, the team succeeded in its completion, but only by the narrowest of margins, as suggested by the idiom "by the skin of your teeth".

• The financial crisis hit the company hard, but with some innovative ideas and quick decision making, they managed to stay afloat, by the skin of their teeth.

  This example showcases a financial crisis that threatened to shut down the company. However, through some creative thinking and fast-paced decision making, they managed to escape the crisis, but only by the narrowest of margins, as indicated by the idiom "by the skin of your teeth."

Conclusion

The idiom "by the skin of your teeth" is used to express the idea of barely managing to accomplish something or narrowly avoiding a negative outcome. It can be used in a variety of situations, such as narrowly passing an exam, barely catching a train, or just escaping a dangerous situation. The phrase emphasizes the slim margin of success or survival, highlighting the close call or near miss.

The idiom is often used in a dramatic or exaggerated manner to emphasize the precariousness of the situation. It can convey a sense of relief or disbelief at the narrow escape or success. Overall, "by the skin of your teeth" is a vivid and colorful way to describe a close call or a narrow victory.

Origin of "(By the) skin of your teeth"

The origin of the idiom "by the skin of your teeth" is widely debated. Some believe that it originated from the Bible, specifically the Book of Job, where Job describes his suffering by saying, "I have escaped by the skin of my teeth." Others attribute the phrase to translations of ancient texts, where "skin" may have referred to the outermost layer or surface of something, and "teeth" may have represented the smallest or most insignificant part.

Regardless of its origin, the idiom has been in use for centuries and has become a common expression in the English language. Its vivid imagery and dramatic connotations have contributed to its enduring popularity.