What does by the skin of ones teeth mean?
- What does by the skin of ones teeth mean?
Just barely, very narrowly, as in Doug passed the exam by the skin of his teeth. A related term appears in the Bible (Job 19:20), where Job says, “I am escaped with the skin of my teeth,” presumably meaning he got away with nothing at all.
- Can't make it on time meaning?
Both these phrases can mean at the specified time (e.g. The train arrived on time -- punctually). But in time often means early enough.