dodge a bullet
Barely avoid harm
To dodge a bullet is to narrowly avoid something harmful or unpleasant—a bad outcome that came close but didn't happen.
The image is of someone escaping gunfire through luck or quick reflexes.
I really dodged a bullet when that deal fell through—the company went bankrupt six months later.
Often implies relief after the fact rather than skillful avoidance.
- walk awayDepart from something
- close callDisaster narrowly averted
- close shaveNarrow escape from harm
- avoidStay away from
- escapeFlight from captivity
narrow escape · evade · elude · unscathed · get off easy · sidestep · peace of mind · thankfulness · good luck · lucky break · near miss · that was close · providence · reassurance · steer clear · fortune · relief · breathe easy
- combat idiomsstab in the back, in the crosshairs, fire away, take a shot, under the gun
dodge a bullettake a hit
Experience negative impact
take a bullet · suffer the consequences · face the music · fall into a trap · bear the brunt
dodge a bulletshoot oneself in the foot
Harm one's own cause
tempt fate · ask for trouble · play with fire · poke the bear · dig one's own grave
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