narrow escape

1. 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.

Example Sentences

In the end, there are no dead bodies, no ruined careers, no narrow escapes.

From Salon

Norris then had a narrow escape at the final corner when he got his outside front wheel on the grass turning in, and ran wide into the run-off area.

From BBC

In the chaos and heartbreak that followed the crash, moments of narrow escape and immense courage stood out.

From BBC

The duo only made a narrow escape, running from an Alpha in a heart-pounding chase sequence that boasts breathtaking experimental camerawork from Boyle.

From Salon

He described his own narrow escape when the car he was travelling in got bogged down.

From BBC

Related Words

• close call 
• shocker