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by the skin of one's teeth

/baɪ ðə skɪn əv wʌnz tiθ/
idiomatic phrase★中级— 险些◆成语
◆ 真正含义
形容某事勉强成功,仅以微弱优势或差一点点的距离达成目标,强调结果的惊险或不确定性。
¶ 字面意思
字面意思是'仅凭牙齿的表皮',引申为勉强成功。
字面拆解
by通过+the skin皮肤+of one's teeth某人的牙齿
◇ 意境
想象一场比赛或考试的结果仅以毫厘之差决定,如同牙齿表面极薄的皮肤险些脱落一般惊险。
◈ 使用场景
小明在期末考试中勉强及格,只比及格线高了一分。朋友问他考得如何,他说:'I passed by the skin of my teeth.'(我险些没及格。)
◉ 文化注释
该短语源于圣经《约伯记》,原意可能指极度消瘦导致牙龈与牙齿分离,后引申为勉强成功的概念。在英语国家文化中,该短语常用于强调结果的惊险或不确定性。
非正式

勉强成功,险些失败,仅以微弱优势或差一点点的距离达成目标

She passed the exam by the skin of her teeth.

她险些没通过考试。

The team won the game by the skin of their teeth.

球队险胜比赛。

💡

强调结果的惊险或不确定性,通常用于过去时态。

搭配

escape by the skin of one's teeth险些逃脱win by the skin of one's teeth险胜

同义词

barelyjusthardlynarrowly

反义词

easilycomfortably

相关短语

narrowly escape短语
险些逃脱
hang by a thread成语
千钧一发

💡专业提示

记忆技巧

将 'skin of one's teeth' 想象为牙齿表面极薄的皮肤(牙龈),险些脱落,象征勉强成功。

⚡黄金法则

使用场景

仅用于描述过去的事件,强调结果的惊险或不确定性。例如:'He won the race by the skin of his teeth.'(他险胜比赛。)

📖词源

该短语首次出现于17世纪,源自圣经《旧约》的《约伯记》第19章第20节(King James Version):'My bone cleaveth to my skin and to my flesh, and I am escaped with the skin of my teeth.' 原意可能指极度消瘦导致牙龈与牙齿分离,引申为勉强逃脱或达成目标。

📝用法说明

1. 通常用于描述过去的事件,强调结果的惊险。 2. 不可用于将来时或进行时。 3. 可用于书面或口语,但较少用于正式场合。

单词拆解

by
通过某种方式
preposition
+
the skin of one's teeth
牙齿的表皮(象征极小的距离或优势)
phrase
英汉词典

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