we barely made it

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "we barely made it" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to express that you just managed to accomplish something, often with difficulty or at the last moment. Example: "We barely made it to the airport before our flight took off."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

12 human-written examples

We barely made it.

The New York Times

"And it was fairly close – we barely made it with the fourth launch of SpaceX.

The Guardian - Tech

We barely made it back to the Park City side before his lunch was projected into the condo hallway.

The Washington Post

"We barely made it this summer," Richard M. Kessel, the chairman of LIPA, said at a news conference today.

The New York Times

We barely made it back to England in one tattered piece, and some members of my crew did not make it back at all.

The New York Times - Tech

We barely made it through our Sunday brunch, our stomachs churning with anticipation.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

48 human-written examples

At Rowan Oak, "We barely make it, but we do make it—just like Faulkner," Mr Griffith says.

The Economist

Sometimes at the end of the year we barely make it".

The New York Times

We barely make it up the steep road, since Carter's Toyota is loaded down with M-4 assault rifles discreetly tucked into golf bags in the trunk.

The New York Times - Magazine

We're not destitute, but we barely make it month to month.

HuffPost

We barely make it onto our red-eye before it leaves the gate, and I decide that that's it for me and responsibility.

Vice

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "we barely made it" to convey a sense of relief and accomplishment after a challenging situation. For a stronger impact, follow it with details about the difficulty faced.

Common error

Avoid using "we barely made it" repeatedly in a short span. Vary your language to maintain reader engagement and prevent the writing from sounding monotonous.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "we barely made it" functions as a statement expressing that a goal was achieved with considerable difficulty and often at the last possible moment. Ludwig shows that is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

85%

Wiki

8%

Science

7%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "we barely made it" is a grammatically correct and usable expression that describes a situation where success was achieved by a narrow margin, as validated by Ludwig AI. While categorized as neutral, it is more frequently found in news media contexts. It is an uncommon phrase, meaning there are cases when alternative expressions could be used. Remember to use with care to not sound repetitive and explore other suitable phrases if necessary.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

we almost didn't make it

Highlights the uncertainty of the outcome, emphasizing the near failure.

we just managed it

Focuses on the successful outcome with less emphasis on the difficulty.

we scraped through

Emphasizes the narrowness of the success, suggesting a difficult or close call.

we pulled it off at the last minute

Highlights the timing, stressing that the success was achieved very late.

we only just succeeded

Highlights the fact that success was achieved by a slim margin.

we got there in the nick of time

Implies that they almost missed their deadline or appointment.

we narrowly avoided failure

Shifts the focus to the potential negative outcome that was avoided.

we made it by the skin of our teeth

An idiomatic expression emphasizing the extremely close nature of the success.

we triumphed by a whisker

Illustrates the closeness of the success using the metaphor of a whisker.

we succeeded against the odds

Suggests that there were significant obstacles to overcome.

FAQs

What does "we barely made it" mean?

It means that you almost failed to accomplish something, but succeeded by a very small margin or at the last possible moment.

What can I say instead of "we barely made it"?

You can use alternatives like "we just managed it", "we scraped through", or "we almost didn't make it", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "we barely made it" formal or informal?

It's generally considered to be informal, suitable for everyday conversation and casual writing. For more formal contexts, consider alternatives like "we narrowly succeeded".

How to use "we barely made it" in a sentence?

Example: After two long walks, a bus ride, two security checks and unhelpful personnel, "we barely made it" to our flight. Avoid short layovers.