by the skin on my teeth - what the hell does it mean?

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  • X-Wing
    Confirmed User
    • Aug 2003
    • 768

    #1

    by the skin on my teeth - what the hell does it mean?

    I've heard this expression in a song and in a movie, never known what exactly it means. Can some tell me?

    Thanks
  • InsaneMidget
    Confirmed User
    • May 2002
    • 3767

    #2
    just barely made it.

    Comment

    • corvette
      Confirmed User
      • Oct 2001
      • 7880

      #3
      there is more than one way to skin a cat
      If you need a good company for check writing services, then check out checkissuing, and for webhosting, check out Phoenix NAP

      Comment

      • Yo Adrian
        Confirmed User
        • Apr 2002
        • 6326

        #4
        You can't win for losing
        Adult SEO Partners - Full service Adult SEO Agency serving some of the biggest names in the industry.

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        • mule
          Confirmed User
          • Jan 2002
          • 6085

          #5
          the skin "of" my teeth, by the way, not "on"
          Converting like a mofo

          Comment

          • chodadog
            Confirmed User
            • Apr 2002
            • 9736

            #6
            "The source of the phrase "by the skin of one's teeth" is indeed the Book of Job, although the precise phrase Job used was "My bone cleaveth to my skin, and to my flesh, and I am escaped with the skin of my teeth" (not "by"). Just what the "skin" of one's teeth might be is a bit unclear, but it probably refers to the thin porcelain exterior of the tooth, not the gums. Job evidently kept his teeth, but just barely. It is also possible that he was saying that the margin of his escape was as narrow as the "skin" of a tooth is shallow -- the equivalent of a "hair's breadth." In any case, Job clearly meant that he'd had a very hard time of it, and the phrase has been used ever since to mean a very narrow or arduous escape."

            From http://www.word-detective.com/100297.html
            26 + 6 = 1

            Comment

            • hova
              Traffillionaire
              • Jan 2002
              • 22430

              #7
              Originally posted by corvett
              there is more than one way to skin a cat
              Serious?? Didn't know that
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              • X-Wing
                Confirmed User
                • Aug 2003
                • 768

                #8
                Originally posted by chodadog
                "The source of the phrase "by the skin of one's teeth" is indeed the Book of Job, although the precise phrase Job used was "My bone cleaveth to my skin, and to my flesh, and I am escaped with the skin of my teeth" (not "by"). Just what the "skin" of one's teeth might be is a bit unclear, but it probably refers to the thin porcelain exterior of the tooth, not the gums. Job evidently kept his teeth, but just barely. It is also possible that he was saying that the margin of his escape was as narrow as the "skin" of a tooth is shallow -- the equivalent of a "hair's breadth." In any case, Job clearly meant that he'd had a very hard time of it, and the phrase has been used ever since to mean a very narrow or arduous escape."

                From http://www.word-detective.com/100297.html
                Nice link man, thanks.

                Comment

                • chodadog
                  Confirmed User
                  • Apr 2002
                  • 9736

                  #9
                  Originally posted by X-Wing


                  Nice link man, thanks.
                  No problem. I love that site. Every time i hear an odd saying, i see if he's written about it. He sometimes gets extremlely in depth with his research. Very impressive!
                  26 + 6 = 1

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