IdiomDaily Life
French
FrenchL'échapper belle
Meaning: To have a narrow escape.
Literally: To escape it beautifully
Example: “Le camion a freiné à un mètre de nous : on l'a échappé belle.” — The truck stopped a meter from us: we escaped by the skin of our teeth.
English equivalent: By the skin of one's teeth
Equivalents in other languages
English: By the skin of your teeth
German: um ein Haar Literally: By a hair- English: close shave
Origin: The pronoun refers to nothing in particular, a construction French keeps in a handful of set phrases. Belle here means cleanly or narrowly rather than attractively.
More French idioms
- À l'envi Vying with one another; each trying to outdo the rest.
- Jeter l'éponge To give up and concede.
- Passer l'éponge To forgive and say no more about it.
- L'esprit de l'escalier The perfect retort that arrives only after you have left.
- Tomber dans l'escarcelle de quelqu'un To end up in someone's possession, often without their working for it.
- À bon escient Advisedly; with proper judgment about when to do it.
Explore another collection: Compliments & Insults
Compliments and insults from around the world, from the sweet to the savage.
- Tu as du chien You have a certain irresistible magnetism — a je-ne-sais-quoi that draws people in.
- Tu as la tête sur les épaules You're grounded, sensible, and dependable — not easily swept off course.
- Tu as le vent en poupe Everything is going your way — you're riding a wave of momentum and success.
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