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.
Words Nearby narrow escape
The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
How to use narrow escape in a sentence
As absurd as it may sound in the wake of such a narrow escape, the really tough political fights still lie ahead.
Congress’s Fiscal-Cliff Chaos: House Passes Last-Minute Deal | John Avlon | January 2, 2013 | THE DAILY BEASTI knew then that Owen had had a narrow escape, and but for the fleetness of foot of Evan he would surely have been slain.
A Prince of Cornwall | Charles W. WhistlerSo we had a narrow escape, thought I; these fellows would have attacked us, I doubt not, had we not gone on that night.
Confessions of a Thug | Philip Meadows TaylorAfter his narrow escape, Rory was soon at the head of a band, and burning villages as busily as ever.
Ireland Under the Tudors, Vol. II (of 3) | Richard BagwellWhen he picked up a piece as large as a saucer beside my pillow, I realized my narrow escape.
The next day quite a number of the garrison were killed or wounded, and Colonel Smith himself had a narrow escape.
Elsie's Vacation and After Events | Martha Finley
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