if not for (someone or something)

If someone or something hadn't helped, intervened, or affected the situation in some way. The phrase is always accompanied by an explanation of how things would have turned out differently without someone or something. I actually owe Tom a lot. If not for him, I never would have met the love of my life! This whole company would have gone under if not for the actions I took! If not for those quick-thinking bystanders, I wouldn't be alive today.