have a close shave

have a close shave

To narrowly escape from or avoid a situation, often an unfavorable or dangerous one. I had a close shave this morning when a tractor trailer unexpectedly swerved into my lane. Boy, we sure had a close shave when that cop almost caught us! We had a close shave when a deer ran directly in front of my car, but we didn't hit it, thank goodness.

See also: close, have, shave

Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.

have a close shave

 and have a close call

Fig. to have a narrow escape from something dangerous. What a close shave I had! I nearly fell off the roof when I was working there. I almost got struck by a speeding car. It was a close shave.

See also: close, have, shave

McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.