By the Skin of Your Teeth – Meaning and Examples

Have you ever passed a test with the lowest possible score, caught a train with seconds to spare, or avoided a mistake by the tiniest margin? In English, we say you made it by the skin of your teeth! This dramatic idiom describes a situation where you barely succeed, escape, or survive—by the narrowest possible chance.

What Does “By the Skin of Your Teeth” Mean?

“By the skin of your teeth” means you succeeded or escaped disaster by an extremely small margin—so small it’s almost unbelievable. Think of it like slipping through a closing door with just your fingernail catching the edge! The phrase isn’t literal (you don’t actually have skin on your teeth); it’s a vivid way to say, “I barely made it.”

When to Use It

Use this phrase in casual or storytelling conversations with friends, family, or coworkers when describing a close call—like passing an exam, meeting a deadline, avoiding an accident, or escaping trouble. It’s perfect for moments of relief after tension. This idiom is informal but widely understood—great for everyday chats, not formal writing.

Example Sentences

I passed the driving test by the skin of my teeth!
We caught the last bus by the skin of our teeth.
He avoided getting fired by the skin of his teeth after missing three deadlines.
The team won the game by the skin of their teeth—final score: 1–0.

Mini Dialogue

Alex: “Did you finish the report before the meeting?”

Jamie: “Yes—but by the skin of my teeth! I hit ‘send’ as the boss walked in.”

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Don’t use this phrase when you succeed easily or with plenty of time to spare. It only applies when the success or escape was extremely close—not just “on time.”

❌ Don’t say: “I arrived at 9 a.m. for my 9 a.m. appointment—by the skin of my teeth!” (That’s on time, not a close call.)
✅ Do say: “I ran in at 9:00:59—by the skin of my teeth!”

Practice Tip

Think of a time you barely avoided trouble or just made a deadline. Say: “I got through it by the skin of my teeth!” It’s a powerful way to share close calls in natural English.

Final Note

Now you can use “by the skin of your teeth” to describe those heart-stopping moments of narrow success! It’s a dramatic, memorable phrase that adds excitement to everyday stories. Keep using it—and may your next close call end with a sigh of relief!

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