saved by the bell
/ˌseɪvd baɪ ðə ˈbel/INFORMAL · B2
Meaning
rescued from an awkward moment just before it gets worse
Examples
- 1The teacher was about to check my homework when the fire alarm went off. Saved by the bell!
- 2I was saved by the bell when my phone rang just as Gran started asking about my exams.
- 3Tom hadn't read the book for the discussion, but he was saved by the bell when the lesson ended early.
- 4Just as the interviewer asked about my weaknesses, the fire alarm rang; talk about being saved by the bell!
- 5Were you saved by the bell, or did you have to answer the tricky question in the end?
Grammar
Often said on its own as a comment. After a subject it follows be: was saved by the bell. saved stays a past participle.
Similar in meaning
More idioms about sports
All 20 idioms and the topic quiz →across the boardaffecting everyone or everything, with no exceptionshome and drysure of success after the difficult part is overpull your punchesto criticise less strongly than you couldroll with the punchesto cope calmly with a series of difficultiesgo the distanceto keep going until the end of something difficultwin hands downto beat everyone else very easily
English Idioms400 idioms in 20 topics — with reviews that keep them from fading
Here you get a couple of questions. The app gives you 16 practice modes, native equivalents and spaced repetition that tells you when it’s time to refresh.
