The Origin Of English Phrases: Biblical Sayings

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By The Skin Of Your Teeth

Phrase Origins Bible - skin of your teeth 2

This is yet another incredibly common English phrase, but when you dissect it, it’s actually a pretty weird thing to say. Your teeth don’t have skin for starters.

The phrase gets its first mention in the Geneva Bible which was translated in 1560. The Geneva Bible was a fairly literal translation of the ancient Hebrew and the phrase turns up in  Job 19:20:

“I haue escaped with the skinne of my tethe” – remember, these were days before spell checker was invented so cut them some slack.

☛ More: How To Make Weapons Out Of Shark Teeth

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