with great relief; as if meeting a friend in need
Idiomatic expression describing the feeling of immense relief when encountering unexpected help in a dire situation. Literally 'like meeting a Buddha in hell'.
I was panicking after losing my notes the day before the exam, but when my friend gave me a copy, it was like meeting a Buddha in hell.
When I lost my wallet and was in trouble, a kind person returned it, and I felt as if I had met a Buddha in hell.
A Japanese idiom combining 地獄 (hell) and 仏 (Buddha), evoking the image of encountering a savior in the worst possible place. The exact origin is uncertain, but it has been used in Japanese literature and everyday speech to express profound relief.