“A close shave”in other languages
A narrow escape.
English
French
German
Same idea, different pictures
English and German measure the margin in hairs: a razor that came this close, and um ein Haar, by a hair. English also escapes by the skin of its teeth, from the Book of Job; teeth have no skin, so the margin is next to nothing.
French l'échapper belle is “to escape it nicely”, where belle means only just.
More sayings in other languages
- Look for a needle in a haystack
- Neither fish nor fowl
- Neither here nor there
- When pigs fly
- Nip something in the bud
- No bed of roses
- No contest
- No pain, no gain
- No sweat