What does the idiom "be/have a close shave" mean?

The phrase be/have a close shave is often used in English, but what does this idiom mean? When idioms are used in the right situations, they strengthen communication and enrich the language. You can communicate more effectively by learning the meaning of be/have a close shave.

Meaning of "be/have a close shave"

Meaning

To ‘have/be a close shave’ means to narrowly avoid a negative or unpleasant outcome. This idiom implies that the outcome could have been much worse had the person not evaded it narrowly or been fortunate. It is usually used to refer to dangerous or life-threatening situations that someone has miraculously managed to escape from.

Etymology

The phrase ‘have/be a close shave’ originated from the act of shaving, where a person uses a sharp blade to cut off facial hair. It began as a reference to someone narrowly avoiding the blade while a person was shaving. The phrase is not only used to refer to literal close shaves but also used to describe any situation where danger is narrowly avoided.

Usage

The phrase ‘have/be a close shave’ is mostly used in informal English. It is often used to describe risky situations, where someone manages to narrowly avoid a potentially dangerous situation or outcome. When referring to actual shaving, the phrase is used to refer to a person who has managed to shave very close to their skin without cutting it. Additionally, the phrase can also be used to refer to something that was successfully completed, yet was still tricky and required a lot of skill.

Example Sentences

  • We had a close shave when the car almost crashed into us.
  • We had a close shave when the burglar almost caught us.
  • I've managed to give myself a close shave without nicking my skin.
  • The rock climber had a close shave when he almost fell off the cliff.
  • The pilot managed to land the plane with a close shave.

The meanings of the words in the "be/have a close shave" idiom

Idioms have a common language

"The early bird catches the worm" is an English idiom that means that those who wake up early and start their day early are more likely to succeed. A similar idiom in Spanish is "El que madruga, Dios le ayuda," which translates to "God helps those who rise early." This idiom emphasizes the importance of starting the day early in order to achieve success.

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