Meaning:
By a narrow margin and barely making it on time or just about finishing it.
Usage:
- She made it to the exam hall by the skin of her teeth
- They repaid the loan by the skin of their teeth
- He caught the flight by the skin of his teeth
Etymology:
This phrase first appeared in English in 1560 in the Geneva Bible, in Job 19:20. It provides a literal translation of the original Hebrew. Source: theidioms.com
