narrow squeak

narrow squeak

1. A victory or success that very nearly ended in failure. After his narrow squeak at the polls, the prime minister must find a way to instill confidence in the country at large once again. After a narrow squeak, they have managed to hold onto their league championship.
2. A situation in which danger or problems are barely avoided. We had just cleaned and tidied the fridge before the health inspector arrived. What a narrow squeak! The expedition had a very narrow squeak when an avalanche tore through the path from which they had just come.
See also: narrow, squeak
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

narrow squeak

Fig. a success almost not achieved; a lucky or marginal success; a problem almost not surmounted. That was a narrow squeak. I don't know how I survived. Another narrow squeak like that and I'll give up.
See also: narrow, squeak
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.

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

narrow squeak

n. a success almost not achieved; a lucky or marginal success; a problem almost not surmounted. That was a narrow squeak. I don’t know how I survived.
See also: narrow, squeak
McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions
See also:
  • instill
  • instill (someone) with (something)
  • instill with
  • squeak through
  • squeak by
  • straight and narrow, (walk) the
  • straight and narrow, the
  • the straight and narrow
  • put (one's) back up
  • imbue
References in classic literature
So much so, that he tried to give the cook some idea of the "narrow squeak we all had" by saying solemnly, "The old man himself had a dam' poor opinion of our chance."
Typhoon
Well, we made it; but it was a narrow squeak. As we swung around, the full force of the current caught us and drove the stern against the rocks; there was a thud which sent a tremor through the whole craft, and then a moment of nasty grinding as the steel hull scraped the rock wall.
The Land That Time Forgot
They ought to have left before, when we had that narrow squeak from foundering.
Youth A Narrative
"I've been thinking of that night we had the narrow squeak," he began.
The Amateur Cracksman
Sarri is still on course for his first major trophy as a boss - but this was a narrow squeak and he once again had to thank Hazard, who now has 10 goals this season - though this was a lucky one.
DEADLY EDEN'S A CROCK STAR! CHELSEA 1 Hazard 84 BOURNEMOUTH 0; Sub Hazard shakes off injury to bag late winner and earn clash with Spurs
The meeting isn't completely forlorn, but if we do race it will be a narrow squeak."
'Nip and tuck' for Haydock
The Falcons boss has made seven changes for the Madejski Stadium clash as Newcastle search for the first Premiership win since the end of October, a narrow squeak against the Exiles when Shane Geraghty's matchwinning penalty was blown from the kicking tee.
Richards warns side not to veer off-plan
But on the road Boro have won just one of their last five away games - and that was a narrow squeak 3-2 at bottom club Peterborough.
Leeds Utd v Boro; Elland Road, tomorrow (3pm kick-off)
London, Oct 16 ( ANI ): A new breed of Dangermouse could soon be coming to the rescue of front-line troops, as scientists are trying to produce a real-life rodent that can sniff out landmines - avoiding many a narrow squeak for disposal experts.
Gene-tweaked mice tailored to sniff out explosives
The swing in opinion behind the value of devolution - at least those provided to pollsters - has been marked since the narrow squeak of a win in the 1997 referendum which established the National Assembly.
Odds-on formality or not it's time to get on with it
Quite a narrow squeak considering it was a most emphatic victor y.
Patient Bears finish the job
But it was a narrow squeak in the end as AP McCoy galvanised 15-8 jolly State Of Play on the run-in.
Horse Racing: BRAVE OLLIE IS NO CHARLIE
But after the disaster at Equitable Life and what looked like a narrow squeak at Standard Life (now going far better as a listed company), that is less appealing than it was.
How judicious SIPPS won't drain your pensions glass dry
This isn't meant to be a Lehmann rally - and I've put the metaphorical boot into the Gunners before - but I do hope he gets away from this narrow squeak.
Offside: The Beast
The landing signal officer logged the narrow squeak as an arrested landing, a bolter and a water touch and go.
Grampaw Pettibone