By the skin of my teeth
Meaning
To succeed by the skin of one's teeth means to barely succeed, often by a very narrow margin or with great difficulty.
Origin
This vivid and enduring phrase traces its roots directly to the ancient world, appearing in the biblical Book of Job. In Job 19:20, the King James Version reads: 'My bone cleaveth to my skin and to my flesh, and I am escaped with the skin of my teeth.' While humans do not literally possess 'skin' on their teeth, the imagery powerfully conveys Job's utter destitution and his incredibly narrow survival from overwhelming despair and suffering. It paints a picture of having absolutely nothing left, having survived by the most impossible and non-existent margin, which subsequently became a potent metaphor for any incredibly close escape or success.
Examples
- I passed that challenging exam by the skin of my teeth, truly believing I was going to fail until the very last minute.
- After a nail-biting finish, the team won the championship game by the skin of their teeth, clinching victory in the final seconds.