The Meaning of por los pelos

Por los pelos

Definition:
“Por los pelos” is a Spanish phrase that means “by the skin of one’s teeth” in English. It is used to describe a situation where someone narrowly escapes danger or achieves something just in time, often implying that the outcome was uncertain or precarious.

Usage:
It can be used in various contexts, generally to indicate a close call or a last-minute success. For example:

• “Llegué a la estación por los pelos y perdí el tren.” (I arrived at the station just in time and missed the train.)
• “Pasé el examen por los pelos.” (I passed the exam by the skin of my teeth.)

Etymology:
The phrase can be translated literally as “by the hairs,” where “por” means “by” and “pelos” means “hairs.” The origin likely lies in the idea that a very thin or fragile element (such as hair) can be the only thing standing between success and failure.

Pronunciation:
In IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet), it is pronounced as /poɾ los ˈpelos/.

Synonyms:

• De milagro (by miracle)
• Por un pelo (by a hair)

Antonyms:

• Sin duda (without a doubt)
• Fácilmente (easily)

This idiomatic expression captures the essence of being in a tight spot or barely managing to succeed in a given situation, making it a vivid and widely used phrase in the Spanish language.

1. Casi llego tarde al trabajo, pero lo logré por los pelos.
   (I almost arrived late to work, but I made it just in time.)

2. Ganamos el partido por los pelos gracias a un gol en el último minuto.
   (We won the match by the skin of our teeth thanks to a last-minute goal.)

3. Pasé el examen por los pelos; me la jugué en las últimas preguntas.
   (I passed the exam by the skin of my teeth; I took a risk on the last questions.)

4. El proyecto fue entregado por los pelos, tuvimos que trabajar toda la noche.
   (The project was delivered just in time; we had to work all night.)

5. El tren salió por los pelos, ¡casi me quedo en la estación!
   (The train left just in time; I almost got stuck at the station!)

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