narrow escape

narrow escape

A situation in which danger or problems are barely avoided. That guy barely made it over the tracks before the train came. What a narrow escape!
See also: escape, narrow
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

narrow escape

A barely successful flight from or avoidance of danger or trouble, as in He had a narrow escape, since the bullet came within inches of his head. This expression uses narrow in the sense of "barely sufficient." [Late 1500s] For a newer synonym, see close call.
See also: escape, narrow
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.

a narrow eˈscape/ˈsqueak

a situation where somebody only just avoids injury, danger or failure: We had a narrow escape on the way here. The wind blew a tree down just in front of us. We could have been killed.
See also: escape, narrow, squeak
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary
See also:
  • a narrow escape/squeak
  • to barely make it
  • near miss
  • a near miss
  • can't very well (do something)
  • can't/couldn't very well do something
  • fog
  • able to fog a mirror
  • have a near miss
  • have come a long way
References in periodicals archive
Summary: Krishna (Andhra Pradesh) [India], Aug 2 (ANI): A private school bus carrying 40 children had a narrow escape in an accident which occurred on Friday morning here.
AP: School children have narrow escape in bus accident
KEY witness Sam Wilkie, who gave evidence that helped seal the trio's fate, had a "narrow escape" according to friends.
'Brave' witness stood up to bullying of evil murderers
A worker recovering a broken-down vehicle had a narrow escape after being hit by a van on the A75.
Recovery man hit
Summary: Modi's wife Jashodaben had a narrow escape in an accident in Rajasthan, reports say
PM Modi's wife Jashodaben injured in accident
My family had a narrow escape today after @reliancejio 's @Reliance_LYF phone exploded & burst into flames.
Reliance Lyf smartphone bursts into flames, company launches probe into the incident
After their narrow escape from their "perfect" hometown, Eli, Tori, Amber and Malik are finally in the real world and determined to expose the leaders of Serenity.
Masterminds: Criminal Destiny (Masterminds, Book 2)
A POLICE officer had a narrow escape after a driver ignored a road block on the A55 and almost hit her.
Car almost hits police officer
THREE young people had a narrow escape when their car collided with a milk tanker.
Lucky escape for three in collision with milk tanker
ISLAMABAD -- A passenger plane (PK-612) made a narrow escape after a bird hit the plane just before the landing at the Benazir Bhutto International Airport.
Bird hits passengers' plane, makes emergency landing
A district cricket official said two women's cricket teams had a narrow escape when lightning struck a tree on the grounds where they were playing in Guntur town.
22 killed in India lightning strikes; WORLD BULLETINS
Henry Nicholson had a narrow escape from Black Widow killer Clare Humble, who he befriended.
My escape from the Black Widow
narrow escape the billowy curtain the ruggedly handsome center stage
Tango
He thanked Allah Almighty for narrow escape of Maulana Fazlur Rehman in this tragedy.
CM condemns suicide attack
The one Gordon Brown refused to join unless it equalled the pound sterling; a narrow escape because the Euro is worth 80p at present.
Broken dream of Europe
From a narrow escape from a zombie apocalypse to a neglected cat litter box, these are hilarious short stories certain to delight many a chapter book and easy reader.
Wipeout of the Wireless Weenies