首くびの皮かわ一いち枚まい

expression

by a hair's breadth; barely hanging on; still having a tiny chance

Idiomatic expression meaning that one is barely surviving or has only a very slim chance left, often used with verbs like 残る or つながる.

• 首くびの皮かわ一いち枚まいで試し験けんに合ごう格かくした。

  I passed the exam by a hair's breadth.

• 会かい社しゃは首くびの皮かわ一いち枚まいで倒とう産さんを免まぬがれた。

  The company barely avoided bankruptcy by a thread.