[00:00.28]Hi, I'm Yang Li, and welcome to The English We Speak. I'm here today with Jen.
[00:05.56]Hi.
[00:07.55]Jen, you look a little flustered? Are you ok?
[00:11.65]Oh, I woke up late and had to run to the train station.
[00:15.12]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.
[00:22.40]Phew. Is there any coffee?
[00:24.43]Hang on hang on. How did your teeth help you to run for the train?
[00:29.67]Sorry?
[00:30.58]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?
[00:39.69]No, there's no skin on my teeth. That would be disgusting.
[00:43.85]But but what did you mean?
[00:46.10]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.
[00:55.29]Ah see, so if you got to the train by the skin of your teeth, it means that you nearly missed it?
[01:02.75]That's exactly right. Let's hear some more examples of the phrase in action.
[01:08.40]My brother's so lucky. He never does any revision for exams but always manages to pass by the skin of his teeth.
[01:17.18]Hi, I'm stuck in a traffic jam. I might still make it to the presentation, but it'll be by the skin of my teeth.
[01:24.62]So when you just manage to do something, you can say you did it by the skin of your teeth?
[01:30.21]That's it.
[01:31.16]That's a really funny phrase. I like it.
[01:34.71]It's good to be able to get your teeth into English phrases like this.
[01:38.48]My teeth? What about my teeth?
[01:41.16]It's just another phrase, silly. If you get your teeth into something, it means that you become really involved in it.
[01:48.59]Well in that case, I do love getting my teeth into a new phrase.
[01:53.50]Teeth, hang on. Oh no, oh I've just remembered, I have a dentist's appointment at 12 o'clock.
[02:03.95]Look it's ten to 12 now, I'll never make it.
[02:07.86]You go, I'll finish the programme, if you run you might make it, but by the skin of your teeth.
[02:13.51]Oh thanks Jen, bye…