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by the skin of one's teeth
01
used to describe a situation in which one barely manages to do something or escape danger
What is the origin of the idiom "by the skin of one's teeth" and when to use it?
The idiom "by the skin of one's teeth" is based on the Bible. The phrase appears in the book of Job, where it is written that Job "escaped by the skin of his teeth". The phrase was later used in literature, including in Shakespeare's play "Henry VI". It is used to describe a situation where someone has only just barely managed to avoid a negative outcome. It suggests that the outcome was largely due to luck or good fortune, rather than the person's own abilities or efforts.
Example
The hiker had survived the wilderness by the skin of his teeth, managing to find his way back to civilization before running out of food.
I passed the test by the skin of my teeth, getting just enough points to pass.
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