🚨 Close Call: Shaves, Near Misses, and Fortunate Escapes 🚒
🤔 Defining the Narrow Escape
A “close call” or a “close shave” refers to a narrow escape from danger or disaster. It’s the precarious moment when disaster looms, but fortune, intuition, or sheer luck brings you back to safety just in the nick of time.
🌱 Synonyms & Similar Terms
- Narrow escape
- Near miss
- Near thing
- Brush with danger
- Hairbreadth escape
❌ Antonyms
- Full-blown disaster
- Catastrophe
😄 Humor-filled Quotes
“I’ve had more close shaves than a Dalmatian in a dog grooming competition.” — made-up quote nobody important but seriously relatable
🤓 Related Expressions & Idioms
- Dodged a bullet: A slightly more modern twist on avoiding a bad situation.
- Pulling something out of a hat: A magician-like escape from the jaws of failure.
- Saved by the bell: Often associated with school kids fearing time running out, but apt for narrowly escaping trouble.
- Living on a prayer: Not just a catchy Bon Jovi hit; it suggests a constant dance with danger reliant on faith alone.
📚 Literature, Books, Songs, Poetry, and Movies
- Movies: “Indiana Jones” series. Indiana seems to have more lives than a cat.
- Songs: “Livin’ on a Prayer” by Bon Jovi – embodying resilience and luck.
- Books: “The Alchemist” by Paulo Coelho – full of moments where fortunes change in the blink of an eye.
- Poetry: “If” by Rudyard Kipling – mastering yourself in crisis fits right into avoiding disaster.
🔍 Proverbs
- “A miss is as good as a mile.”
- “Better safe than sorry.”
- “In the nick of time.”
### Which of these is a true idiom regarding a near miss?
- [x] Close shave
- [ ] Slightly grazed
- [ ] Nearly chipped tooth
- [ ] Touched by a giraffe
> **Explanation:** "Close shave" is a well-known idiom meaning a narrow escape from danger. While the idea of being touched by a giraffe is amusing, it’s yet to make the idiom hall of fame.
### True or False: 'Dodged a bullet' refers to successfully avoiding a difficult or dangerous situation.
- [x] True
- [ ] False
> **Explanation:** True! It metaphorically means you avoided trouble, not necessarily just related to firearms.
### What does 'saved by the bell' mean?
- [x] To be rescued from a difficult situation just in time.
- [ ] To depend on an alarm clock.
- [ ] To love exercise circuits at gyms.
> **Explanation:** "Saved by the bell" means to escape calamity or immediate danger just in time—think spirited last-minute rescues in boxing matches!
### Which phrase doesn’t signify a close call?
- [ ] Near miss
- [ ] Close shave
- [x] Cat's meow
- [ ] Hairbreadth escape
> **Explanation:** While a near miss, close shave, and hairbreadth escape all indicate narrowly avoided disaster, "cat's meow" is just a way to say something is fantastic.
### What genre of movie commonly features 'close calls'?
- [x] Action/Adventure
- [ ] Romantic Comedy
- [ ] Documentary on Zen Gardening
- [ ] Historical Drama about Pottery
> **Explanation:** Action and adventure movies heavily rely on narrow escapes to keep hearts racing and seats edge-ridden.
As we tread life’s path riddled with potential calamities, may we cherish every close call as a testament to our resilience and luck. Keep laughing, keep dodging, and above all, stay fortunate—until the next thrilling escape.
Warm regards,
Lexi Scribe
