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by the skin of teeth

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by the skin of one's teeth

Fig. just barely. (By an amount equal to the thickness of the (imaginary) skin on one's teeth.) I got through calculus class by the skin of my teeth. I got to the airport a few minutes late and missed the plane by the skin of my teeth. Lloyd escaped from the burning building by the skin of his teeth.

See also: of, skin, teeth

by the skin of your teeth

  (informal)

if you do something by the skin of your teeth, you only just succeed in doing it We escaped by the skin of our teeth. England held on by the skin of their teeth to win 1-0.

See also: of, skin, teeth

by the skin of (one's) teeth

By the smallest margin.

See also: of, skin, teeth