Definition

Noun: A situation where someone avoids danger, failure, or an unwanted outcome by a very small margin. It emphasizes how close the person was to experiencing the negative event.

Usage

This noun phrase is used to describe a situation that was almost a disaster or a failure but was narrowly avoided. It often follows verbs like "have," "make," or "survive."

Examples

• The driver had a narrow escape when a tree fell just meters behind his car.
• Surviving that avalanche was a narrow escape; she was buried for over an hour.
• The team made a narrow escape from relegation by winning their final game.

Advanced Usage

• "to have a narrow escape from something": This structure specifies the danger that was avoided.
  • He had a narrow escape from drowning when the current pulled him away from the shore.
• "by a narrow escape": Used as an adverbial phrase to describe how an outcome was achieved.
  • They qualified for the finals by a narrow escape.

Variants and Related Words

• Close call (n.): An informal synonym for a narrow escape, often used in everyday conversation.
  • That was a close call! The ball almost hit the window.
• Close shave (n.): Another informal idiom with a very similar meaning to "narrow escape."
  • Missing the train was a close shave, but I made it to the interview on time.

Synonyms

• Close call
• Close shave
• Near miss

Related Idioms

• "Escape by the skin of one's teeth": This idiom means to barely or narrowly escape from a difficult situation. It is a more vivid and figurative way to express the same idea as a "narrow escape."
  • He passed the exam by the skin of his teeth. (This implies a very narrow escape from failing.)

Noun

1. something achieved (or escaped) by a narrow margin