I narrowly avoided

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "I narrowly avoided" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when describing a situation where you just managed to escape or prevent something negative from happening. Example: "I narrowly avoided a serious accident when the car swerved in front of me."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

6 human-written examples

I narrowly avoided the latter while attempting the former.

The Guardian - Travel

"I narrowly avoided colliding with the stationary mayoral candiate/buffoon, Boris Johnson, on my commute home last year.

The Guardian - Sport

My ex and I narrowly avoided all this by sorting out a healthy financial arrangement between ourselves – just as the government would like.

The Guardian - Opinion

A television news reporter at the time, I narrowly avoided being assigned to cover the multi-car accident that killed my dad.

HuffPost

In Cairo, I managed to talk my way out of a situation involving a mob of Muslim Brotherhood supporters who thought I was an American spy and, on a separate occasion, I narrowly avoided being detained by the Egyptian military.

Vice

I narrowly avoided joining a bank in a coastal town so I could surf every day, when the local grocery store owner took me aside and said, 'You have so much you can do with your life, so get out and explore.' So, looking back I would not wish to have changed anything.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

May they spare me a few days in Purgatory, if I narrowly avoid going to hell".

Wikipedia

As I narrowly avoid being dragged beneath the wheels of a dustbin truck that has ridden up onto the pavement, I discover that RICH HALL is doing live comedy at the Sports Bar and Grill by Marylebone Station.

Vice

Residents said it narrowly avoided being hit by a bus.

Independent

I caught it before I filed, but I still had this gut-wrenching feeling that I'd narrowly avoided getting dragged off to jail for cooking the books to score a massive undeserved refund.

Vice

A week or so ago, while doing research for a book on the disaster of 1842, I only narrowly avoided the fate of my Victorian compatriots.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "I narrowly avoided" to create a sense of tension or near-miss in your writing. It's effective for highlighting a close call or a potentially dangerous situation that was successfully averted.

Common error

While effective, avoid overusing "I narrowly avoided" in a single piece of writing. Vary your language to maintain reader engagement and prevent the phrase from losing its impact.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "I narrowly avoided" functions as a declarative statement describing a past action. It communicates the speaker's successful evasion of an undesirable outcome, emphasizing the small margin for error. Ludwig confirms its grammatical correctness and usability.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

86%

Wiki

3%

Formal & Business

3%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

1%

Science

1%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "I narrowly avoided" is a grammatically correct and commonly understood phrase used to describe a situation where a negative outcome was barely averted. Ludwig AI confirms its validity. While relatively frequent, it is most often found in news and media contexts. When writing, use it to create a sense of tension and highlight a close call. Remember to vary your language to avoid overuse. Consider alternatives like "I barely escaped" or "I only just avoided" for a similar effect.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

I barely escaped

Emphasizes the act of escaping a dangerous or unpleasant situation with little margin for error.

I just managed to dodge

Focuses on the act of dodging or evading something, highlighting the successful avoidance of a negative outcome.

I only just avoided

Highlights the closeness of the call, emphasizing the minimal margin by which something was avoided.

I skirted disaster

Suggests moving along the edge of a potential disaster without being directly affected.

I came close to

Indicates proximity to a particular outcome, without explicitly stating avoidance.

I averted

Focuses on the action of preventing something negative from happening.

I dodged a bullet

Idiomatic expression indicating the successful avoidance of a potentially harmful situation.

I escaped by the skin of my teeth

Idiomatic expression that emphasizes the narrow margin of escape.

I managed to evade

Highlights the act of successfully evading or avoiding something.

I sidestepped

Suggests cleverly avoiding an issue or problem.

FAQs

How can I use "I narrowly avoided" in a sentence?

Use "I narrowly avoided" to describe a situation where you almost experienced something negative. For example, "I narrowly avoided /s/a+car+accident" or "I narrowly avoided /s/a+serious+mistake".

What are some alternatives to "I narrowly avoided"?

You can use alternatives like "I barely escaped", "I just managed to dodge", or "I only just avoided" depending on the specific context.

Is it correct to say "I nearly avoided" instead of "I narrowly avoided"?

While "nearly avoided" isn't grammatically incorrect, "I narrowly avoided" emphasizes the small margin by which you prevented something negative from happening. "Nearly avoided" simply suggests you almost avoided it, but may not convey the same sense of a close call.

What's the difference between "I narrowly avoided" and "I successfully avoided"?

"I narrowly avoided" highlights the closeness of the call, suggesting a potentially dangerous or difficult situation. "I successfully avoided" simply states that you managed to prevent something, without necessarily implying a near-miss.