dodged a bullet

USAGE SUMMARY

"dodged a bullet" is a common idiom in written English.
It means to narrowly avoid or escape a difficult or dangerous situation. For example: "He dodged a bullet when the company he applied to went out of business before they could reject his job application."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

I had dodged a bullet.

The New York Times

"Then we realized we dodged a bullet".

The New York Times

"I dodged a bullet there".

The Guardian - Music

Murray dodged a bullet there.

The Guardian - Sport

Maybe we've dodged a bullet there.

Independent

In short, though, Trump dodged a bullet.

The Washington Post

Make no mistake, we dodged a bullet.

The Guardian - Opinion

The country has dodged a bullet.

The Guardian

"In reality, Southampton dodged a bullet".

The Guardian - Sport

"Merck temporarily dodged a bullet," he said.

The New York Times

"I dodged a bullet in '96.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "dodged a bullet" to express relief when a potential problem has been narrowly avoided. It's most effective when the threat was significant and the escape somewhat unexpected.

Common error

Avoid using "dodged a bullet" for minor inconveniences. The idiom implies a significant threat, so using it inappropriately dilutes its impact and can sound hyperbolic.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "dodged a bullet" functions as an idiom, serving as a concise and impactful way to convey that someone has narrowly avoided a potentially harmful or disastrous situation. As Ludwig indicates, the idiom is commonly used in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

98%

Formal & Business

1%

Science

1%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The idiom "dodged a bullet" is a very common and effective way to express relief at narrowly avoiding a negative outcome. Ludwig AI confirms its widespread use in written English. Predominantly found in News & Media, it conveys a sense of good fortune after averting a potential disaster. While generally neutral in register, its suitability for formal contexts depends on the specific situation. Alternatives such as "narrowly escaped disaster" or "averted a crisis" can be used for a more formal tone. Remember to reserve this idiom for situations where the potential negative consequences were truly significant to maintain its impact.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

dodged a catastrophe

Similar to "dodged a bullet" but implies a more significant and widespread potential negative consequence.

narrowly escaped disaster

Focuses on the imminence of a potential disaster and the act of escaping it by a narrow margin.

averted a crisis

Highlights the successful prevention of a crisis situation, emphasizing a proactive approach.

escaped by the skin of one's teeth

Emphasizes the narrow margin of escape, using a vivid image to convey the closeness of the call.

skirted disaster

Focuses on avoiding something unpleasant, often by going around it or dealing with it indirectly.

had a lucky escape

Highlights the role of luck in avoiding a negative outcome.

had a close call

A more general expression for a near miss, applicable to a wide range of situations.

slipped through the net

Implies escaping a system or process designed to catch or prevent something.

got off lightly

Suggests that the consequences were less severe than initially anticipated.

avoided a negative outcome

A more formal and less idiomatic way of expressing the same idea.

FAQs

What does "dodged a bullet" mean?

The idiom "dodged a bullet" means that someone has narrowly avoided a dangerous or unpleasant situation. It implies a close call where the outcome could have been significantly worse.

When is it appropriate to use the expression "dodged a bullet"?

It's appropriate to use "dodged a bullet" when describing situations where a potential disaster or major problem was narrowly avoided. It's best suited for scenarios with significant negative consequences averted by luck or circumstance.

What can I say instead of "dodged a bullet"?

You can use alternatives like "narrowly escaped disaster", "averted a crisis", or "had a close call" depending on the context.

Is "dodged a bullet" formal or informal?

"Dodged a bullet" is generally considered an informal expression. While widely understood, it may not be suitable for formal writing or professional settings where a more neutral tone is preferred. In those scenarios, a more formal alternative such as "avoided a negative outcome" could be more appropriate.