narrow escape

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

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

• Audio (US)

  (file)

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.

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