By the skin of your teeth: Meaning and Examples

Updated 2026-10-04 · Idiom Meanings editorial team

Quick answer: The phrase by the skin of your teeth meaning is often searched when people want to describe a very close call. It means you succeeded or escaped danger by the smallest possible margin, with almost no room for error or failure at all.

What Does "by the skin of your teeth" Mean?

When you say you did something by the skin of your teeth, you mean you achieved the goal or avoided a bad outcome by an incredibly small amount. There was barely any margin for error, and failure seemed like a very real possibility until the very last moment.

This expression captures the tension of a near-miss situation. It describes that breathless feeling when you realize you barely made it through a challenge, emphasizing how precarious and risky the entire experience felt to the person involved.

How People Use It Today

Modern speakers use this idiom in casual conversation to describe tight deadlines, narrow escapes from accidents, or barely passing a difficult test. It highlights the relief felt after surviving a stressful situation where the outcome was uncertain until the final second.

Example Sentences

We finished the project by the skin of our teeth, submitting the files just seconds before the deadline.
She passed the driving test by the skin of her teeth, missing only one tiny point on the exam.
The team won the match by the skin of their teeth thanks to a last-minute goal.
I escaped the rain by the skin of my teeth, reaching my car right as the storm broke.
He got the job by the skin of his teeth after a very intense final interview.
The pilot landed the plane by the skin of his teeth despite the severe turbulence.
We caught the bus by the skin of our teeth, jumping on just as the doors closed.
She answered the final question by the skin of her teeth, guessing correctly at the end.
The building survived the earthquake by the skin of its teeth, with only minor cracks.
I saved the document by the skin of my teeth before the computer crashed completely.

Idioms With a Similar Meaning

By a hair: This phrase is a direct synonym, emphasizing an extremely small margin of difference or success.
By a nose: Often used in racing contexts, this suggests winning by a very slight physical distance.
By a whisker: Similar to by a hair, this implies a victory or escape that was incredibly close.
By a narrow margin: This is a more literal phrase that describes a small difference between success and failure.
Close call: This noun phrase focuses on the dangerous situation itself rather than the method of escape.
Narrowly escaped: This phrase highlights the avoidance of danger rather than the achievement of a goal.

Opposite or Contrasting Phrases

With ease: This suggests the task was simple and required no struggle or tension to complete.
By a wide margin: This indicates a clear, comfortable success with plenty of room to spare.
Handily: This adverb implies winning or succeeding in a dominant and effortless manner.
In the bag: This phrase means success was certain and never really in doubt.

When to Use It and When Not To

You can use this idiom in stories, emails, and casual talk to add drama to a close call. It works well when you want to convey the stress and relief of a situation where things could have gone wrong easily.

Avoid using it in strict academic or legal writing where precise language is preferred. Also, do not use it for situations that were actually easy or completely under control, as the phrase specifically implies extreme closeness.

Example Dialogues

Are we going to make the reservation on time?

We got by the skin of our teeth; the table opened up just as we arrived.

How did you manage to fix the engine so quickly?

I succeeded by the skin of my teeth, finding the loose wire at the very last second.

Did you finish the report before the meeting started?

Only by the skin of my teeth, hitting send as the conference room doors opened.

Was the race close between the two runners?

The winner crossed the line by the skin of her teeth, barely ahead of the competitor.

Do you think we will survive the budget cuts?

We will pass by the skin of our teeth if we trim every unnecessary expense today.

More Example Sentences

The hikers escaped the rising floodwaters by the skin of their teeth, scrambling up the ridge just in time.
He passed his medical licensing exam by the skin of his teeth, scoring the minimum required points.
The old bridge held by the skin of its teeth during the storm, showing signs of severe stress.
We saved the presentation by the skin of our teeth when the USB drive finally worked on the third try.
She avoided the accident by the skin of her teeth, swerving onto the shoulder at the last moment.
The company retained its certification by the skin of its teeth after a rigorous and unexpected audit.
I found my lost keys by the skin of my teeth, spotting them under the couch cushion seconds before the taxi arrived.
The athlete kept his balance by the skin of his teeth, regaining composure just before landing the jump.

In Formal Writing, Say This Instead

Narrowly: The firm narrowly avoided a significant financial loss due to the sudden market shift.
Marginally: The candidate won the election by a marginal victory, securing only a few additional votes.
Precariously: The structural integrity of the roof remained precarious after the heavy snowfall.
With scant margin: The research team completed the experiment with scant margin before the funding period expired.
Barely: The aircraft landed safely, barely clearing the obstacles in the runway path.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is by the skin of your teeth a positive phrase?

It is generally neutral or positive regarding the outcome, as it implies success or survival. However, it describes a stressful situation, so the tone is often one of relief rather than triumph.

Can I use this phrase for sports?

Yes, it is very common in sports commentary. You can use it to describe a team winning a game by a single point or a player making a difficult shot at the last second.

Is this idiom formal or informal?

It is considered standard English and fits well in most contexts. It is not slang, but it is more common in spoken language or narrative writing than in dry technical reports.

What is the grammar rule for this phrase?

You typically use it as an adverbial phrase at the end of a sentence. It modifies the verb to show how the action was completed, such as passing a test or finishing a race.