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by the skin of your teeth

"by the skin of your teeth"

We use this expression to say that you only just manage to do something, you narrowly avoid failing:

He managed to pass the exam by the skin of his teeth

I caught the plane by the skin of my teeth

The Italian expression that is nearest is probably "per un pelo" - but note the English idiom is only used if yousucceed in doing something.

The expression in English comes from the Geneva Bible of 1560, and then was used again in the King James Bible of 1611, so it has been around for some time.

In the Book of Job (19:20) Job is lamenting to God all the terrible things that have happened to him, among which are:

My relatives and companions neglect me,

my guests have forgotten me

I call my servant, but he gives no answer,

My breath is abhorrent to my wife;

I am loathsome to my very children.

Even young children despise me;

All my intimate friends hold me in horror;

those whom I loved have turned against me

and he finshes by saying:

My bones cling to my skin,

and I have escaped by the skin of my teeth.

No doubt about it - Job has had a pretty bad time and has not actually escaped anything much. In fact, the translation of this phrase has been much debated over the years as the meaning is not very clear. However, the fact remains that in the popular idiom the meaning is always positive. So look on the bright side and don't be a Job's comforter......oh, but that's another story.

by the skin of your teeth