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The English We Speak.

We Speak.

From the BBC.

Hi, I'm Yang Lee and welcome to the English We speak. I'm here today with Jen.

Hi. Jen you look a little flustered. Are you okay?

Oh I woke up late and had to run to the train station. There's only one train an hour. I ran all the way there and made it by the skin of my teeth just as the doors were closing.

Few, is there any coffee?

Hang on, hang on.

How did your teeth help you run for the train?

Sorry?

You said, I made it by the skin of my teeth. I've got to see this. Show me your teeth. When did they grow skin?

No, there's no skin on my teeth. That would be disgusting disgusting but what did you mean if you do something by

the skin of your teeth it means that you did it by a narrow margin so you just

managed to do it or almost failed. I see so if you got to the

train by the skin of your teeth it means that you nearly missed it. That's exactly

right let's hear some more examples of the

phrase in action. My brother's so lucky. He never does any revision for

exams but always manages to pass by the skin of his teeth.

Hi, yeah, I'm stuck in a traffic jam. I might still make the presentation but

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