すんでのところで

Meanings

usually written using kana alone

Used to describe a situation where something almost happened (often negative) but was narrowly avoided, or something barely succeeded. Typically followed by a verb in the past tense or a conditional expression.

すんでの所ところで電でん車しゃに乗のり遅おくれるところだった。
I almost missed the train.
すんでの所ところで事じ故こを免まぬがれた。
I barely escaped the accident.
すんでの所ところで試し験けんに合ごう格かくした。
I just barely passed the exam.

See all 6 example sentences ›

Kanji

所place, extent
寸measurement, tenth of a shaku, a little
既previously, already, long ago

Related words

あわやN1
すんでのところで also means 'at the last moment' but is slightly more formal and puts emphasis on the critical instant of avoidance, whereas あわや emphasizes how close the bad event came to happening.
危あやうくN1
すんでのところで is a more dramatic, literary way of saying 'just barely', while 危うく is the common everyday choice.
間かん一いっ髪ぱつN1
すんでのところで is an adverbial phrase meaning 'just barely', whereas 間一髪 is a noun that can be used as a subject or modifier as well as in adverbial phrases.

Written forms

すんでの所ところで
Most common spelling; the word is usually written in kana, but 所 is often retained.
既すんでの所ところで
rarely-used kanji form
Rarely used kanji form.
寸すんでのところで
irregular kanji usage
Search-only kanji form.

Etymology

The phrase is composed of すんで (from the verb 済む 'to finish, to be over') + の (possessive particle) + 所 (ところ 'place, moment') + で (particle). It literally means 'at the moment of being finished/over', implying a critical juncture where something almost concluded (often badly) but was narrowly avoided.