narrow escape
4
3.1
- noun
- /ˈnɛroʊ ɪˈskeɪp/
- Informal
:
escape estrecha
- You have just had a very narrow escape from death.
- narrow escape in a crash
Examples
-
He had a narrow escape from the burning building, managing to get out just in time.
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NARRATOR 2: After his narrow escape, Dorian comes home to find Basil, the painter, waiting for him.
Fiction book (1999) -
Oh, that was a narrow escape.
-
I had a very narrow escape in my life.
Academic text (2004) -
But it was a narrow escape.
Fiction book (1995) -
I had a narrow escape, I'll tell you that.
-
Mrs. Peel had a narrow escape.
Fiction book (1998) -
After his terrifying narrow escape, Scar is wary.
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Letting out a deep sigh of his own, he closed his eyes briefly and offered a quick prayer of thanks for the narrow escape.
Fiction book (1992) -
As he noted, the city had a narrow escape from Hurricane Irene, and in some ways, this storm poses greater risks.
Blog text (10)
Synonyms
43
3.7
A situation when something bad almost happens but is avoided
4
7.8
A result decided by a very small difference
3
3.9
A situation where you almost have something bad happen
1
5.3
A very close success or escape by a small margin
How Close
- Informal
4
3.1
14
3.7
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning 'only just avoids danger' is directly derivable from combining 'narrow' (limited, small) with 'escape' (an instance of getting away), so it denotes a small or close escape. This compositional pattern is common across languages and follows standard adjective + noun modification, making it readily understandable to a B1 learner who knows both constituents.
Etymology
The phrase narrow escape comes from the picture of someone squeezing through a very small or narrow gap while danger is right behind them. That's why it means 'just avoiding danger'.