narrow escape

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narrow escape

/ˌnæɹəʊ ɪˈskeɪp/ UK
/ˌnæɹoʊ əˈskeɪp/ US
/-ɛˈskeɪp/ US

Rhymes with -eɪp

Where it comes from

From narrow (“having a small degree or margin”, adjective) + escape (noun).

noun narrow escapes

A situation in which some danger or unfortunate circumstance is only just avoided. Meredith referred to the turnpike or carriage road constructed by the Tredegar Iron Company alongside the tramroad from Penllwyn Mawr to Tredegar, and said there was no fence between the two; he had experienced narrow escapes at times when on horseback, for horses occasionally took fright when meeti
Similar: close call, close shave, near miss

Translations

Every language

noun situation in which some danger or unfortunate circumstance is only just avoided

Français	l’échapper belle

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MLA

"narrow escape." Wiktionary, via Micwyn, micwyn.com/word/narrow%20escape. Accessed 7 Nov. 2026.

APA

narrow escape. (n.d.). In Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Retrieved November 7, 2026, from https://micwyn.com/word/narrow%20escape

Chicago

"narrow escape." Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Accessed November 7, 2026. https://micwyn.com/word/narrow%20escape.

BibTeX

@misc{narrow_escape_2026,
  title = {narrow escape},
  howpublished = {Wiktionary, via Micwyn},
  year = {2026},
  url = {https://micwyn.com/word/narrow%20escape},
  urldate = {2026-11-07}
}