close shave
Plural
close shaves
1
used for referring to a situation in which something dangerous is avoided just before it is too late for it to happen
The idiom "close shave" originated from the practice of shaving, emphasizing the nearness of a narrow escape from harm or disaster. It is commonly used to describe a situation in which someone or something barely avoids a dangerous or unpleasant outcome, highlighting the element of luck and the slim margin between safety and potential harm.
- He had a close shave when the car's brakes failed, but he managed to stop just inches from the cliff's edge.
- It was a close shave for the company, narrowly avoiding bankruptcy by securing a last-minute loan.
- The hiker had a close shave with a bear in the woods but was able to slowly back away unscathed.
- The detective had a close shave with the criminal, narrowly avoiding being caught during the stakeout.
- The successful emergency landing of the malfunctioning plane was a close shave, with passengers relieved to have landed safely.
Synonyms: