skin of our teeth, the: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1formal, literary, journalistic
Quick answer
What does “skin of our teeth, the” mean?
A very narrow margin of success.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A very narrow margin of success; barely managing to avoid failure or disaster.
Succeeding by the smallest possible margin, often implying a sense of relief or luck after a close call.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning or usage. The idiom is equally understood in both varieties.
Connotations
Slightly more literary or formal in both varieties, but common in quality journalism and narrative contexts.
Frequency
Moderate frequency in written English (news, reports, literature); lower in casual spoken English.
Grammar
How to Use “skin of our teeth, the” in a Sentence
[Subject] + [verb of narrow success] + by the skin of [possessive pronoun] teethVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “skin of our teeth, the” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- We escaped by the skin of our teeth.
- The team qualified by the skin of their teeth.
American English
- We made it by the skin of our teeth.
- He passed the test by the skin of his teeth.
adverb
British English
- They survived, but only skin-of-their-teeth.
American English
- The bill passed, skin-of-its-teeth.
adjective
British English
- It was a skin-of-our-teeth escape from the financial crisis.
American English
- They had a skin-of-their-teeth victory in the playoffs.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used in reports to describe a narrow avoidance of financial loss or project failure.
Academic
Rare in formal academic writing but may appear in historical or narrative analysis.
Everyday
Used in storytelling to describe a personal close call (e.g., missing a flight, passing an exam).
Technical
Not typically used in technical contexts.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “skin of our teeth, the”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “skin of our teeth, the”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “skin of our teeth, the”
- Using 'tooth' instead of 'teeth' (*by the skin of my tooth). Incorrect pronoun agreement (*by the skin of their tooth).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It originates from the Book of Job in the Bible (Job 19:20), where Job says "I am escaped with the skin of my teeth," traditionally interpreted as having escaped with nothing left, not even the skin of his teeth.
It is almost exclusively used for past events describing a narrow escape or success that has already happened.
It is neutral to slightly formal. It's common in writing (news, stories) and can be used in spoken English, but is less common in very casual chat.
Yes, the structure is fixed: 'by the skin of [my/your/his/her/our/their] teeth'. The pronoun must agree with the subject of the success/escape.
A very narrow margin of success.
Skin of our teeth, the: in British English it is pronounced /ðə ˌskɪn əv aʊə ˈtiːθ/, and in American English it is pronounced /ðə ˌskɪn əv aʊr ˈtiθ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “close shave”
- “near miss”
- “touch and go”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine your teeth have skin (they don't!) – succeeding by that impossibly thin layer means you almost didn't make it.
Conceptual Metaphor
SUCCESS IS A PHYSICAL MARGIN (The margin is as thin as the non-existent skin on teeth).
Practice
Quiz
What does 'by the skin of your teeth' mean?