narrow escape

English

WOTD – 18 December 2023

Etymology

From narrow (“having a small degree or margin”, adjective) + escape (noun).

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ˌnæɹəʊ ɪˈskeɪp/
• (General American) IPA^(key): /ˌnæɹoʊ əˈskeɪp/, /-ɛˈskeɪp/
• Rhymes: -eɪp
• Hyphenation: nar‧row es‧cape

• Audio (US):

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Noun

narrow escape (plural narrow escapes)

1. A situation in which some danger or unfortunate circumstance is only just avoided.

   Synonyms: close call, close shave, near miss

   • 1939 September, Charles E. Lee, “The Sirhowy Valley and Its Railways—I”, in The Railway Magazine, London: Tothill Press, →ISSN, →OCLC, page 207:

     Meredith referred to the turnpike or carriage road constructed by the Tredegar Iron Company alongside the tramroad from Penllwyn Mawr to Tredegar, and said there was no fence between the two; he had experienced narrow escapes at times when on horseback, for horses occasionally took fright when meeting locomotives.

Translations

situation in which some danger or unfortunate circumstance is only just avoided

• Bulgarian: премеждие (bg) n (premeždie)
• Finnish: täpärä pelastuminen
• French: l’échapper belle
• Macedonian: please add this translation if you can
• Maori: ora noa, ora pito
• Polish: uniknięcie o mały włos n
• Tagalog: lusót (tl)

See also

• by a hair's breadth
• by the skin of one's teeth
• cheat death
• dodge a bullet
• hair's breadth

 

Further reading

• “narrow escape, n.”, in Lexico, Dictionary.com; Oxford University Press, 2019–2022.