close call; narrow margin; the eleventh hour
Describes a situation where something almost failed or was barely achieved. Often used with で to mean 'by a narrow margin' or 'at the last moment'.
I passed the exam by a narrow margin.
A car came and I was saved at the last moment.
Standard kanji-kana mixed spelling.
Variant with 所 instead of ところ; slightly more formal or written.
Kana for 際どい plus kanji 所; less common but seen.
Phrase composed of 際どい (きわどい, 'close, risky, borderline') + ところ ('place, point, moment'). The adjective 際どい derives from 際 (きわ, 'edge, brink') + どい (adjective-forming suffix).