How do you say “By the skin of your teeth” in French?
The closest natural French equivalent is de justesse, which literally means “of exactness”. English speakers use by the skin of your teeth to mean you succeed in doing something or avoid danger with almost no room or time left. 'De justesse' is the universal French phrase for succeeding or escaping at the absolute last margin. To add more vivid physical imagery, native speakers frequently say 'd'un cheveu'. It is neutral, informal and common in everyday French.
Closest natural French
de justesse
/də ʒys.tɛs/
- Literal meaning
- “of exactness”
- Register
- neutral, informal
- How often it's used
- common
- Equivalence
Near-exact equivalent
92 out of 100
What a native French speaker would actually say
The English idiom 'by the skin of your teeth' originates from the Book of Job and evokes a razor-thin, almost nonexistent margin because teeth have no skin. In French, there is no direct equivalent that mentions teeth; instead, the standard phrase across all registers is 'de justesse'. While less figurative, it carries the exact same functional meaning: a goal reached or a disaster averted with zero margin to spare.
When French speakers want a more colorful or dramatic image matching the English idiom's flavor, they typically turn to hair rather than teeth, saying 'd'un cheveu' (by a hair) or 'ça s'est joué à un cheveu' (it came down to a hair). In sports, politics, or high-stakes timelines, 'sur le fil' (on the wire) is also an extremely common figurative alternative.
How close is the meaning?
- Meaning5 out of 5
- Tone5 out of 5
- Context5 out of 5
- Literal similarity1 out of 5
These ratings are editorial approximations, not measurements.
What are other ways to say it in French?
d'un cheveu
Literally: “by a hair”
Vivid and casual, emphasizing an infinitesimal margin of error.
in extremis
Literally: “at the point of death (Latin)”
Commonly used in French to mean at the very last second or against all odds.
sur le fil
Literally: “on the wire”
Often used in competitions or tight deadlines, similar to 'down to the wire'.
Don't translate it literally
par la peau des dents
This is a literal word-for-word calque that sounds completely nonsensical to a French speaker.
Word-for-word versions like these are understood as literal statements in French, not as expressions.
In context
English
He caught the train by the skin of his teeth.
French
Il a attrapé le train de justesse.
English
She passed her driving test by the skin of her teeth.
French
Elle a eu son permis de justesse.
Related expressions
Last reviewed 2026-09-11