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Close Shave

To escape a dangerous situation very closely or to avoid some errors with a slight margin

Etymology:

  • This term was used by Americans in the 19th century. This idiom has been derived from the practice of shaving. When a person is shaving with the help of razor, he is seconds far from a cut or burn. Any wrong razor move could lead to cuts. A shave delivers smooth skin if done carefully. It means that one can escape a dangerous situation very closely. There is no room left for an error in a close shave. This expression was given different meanings later and was used accordingly.
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The lookout crew on the Titanic thought they did not hit the iceberg and it was a close shave.

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Submitted on February 25, 2019

Additional definitions for 'Close Shave':

close shaveA near accident or mishap; a dangerous or risky encounter or incident.
close shaveA shave that is very short or near the skin.
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Nearby phrases

Some more phrases from our dictionary similar to Close Shave

fly too close to the sunclose one's eyes and think of Englandclose, but no cigarclose offclose to the windclose to homeclose the stable door after the horse h…close one's eyeshits pretty close to homeclose ranksclose in onclose outclose up shopclose out

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    "Close Shave." Phrases.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 21 Dec. 2024. <https://www.phrases.com/phrase/close-shave_44574>.

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