Saved by the Bell.
English
idiom
Rescued from a difficult situation at the last moment.
Trusted by1.5M+English learners & teachers worldwide
Rescued from a difficult situation at the last moment.
Trusted by1.5M+English learners & teachers worldwide
Rescued from a bad situation just in time, usually by something that interrupts or ends it.
When you're saved by the bell, something external — a call, an alarm, an interruption — prevents something worse from happening.
It comes from boxing, where a bell saves a losing fighter.
"In the Nick of Time"
—
Something arrives just in time to help, but not necessarily through an interruption
"Off the Hook"
—
Getting out of a responsibility, not necessarily rescued by something external
"Saved by the Bell"
—
Being rescued by an outside interruption before something goes badly
Did the director ask about the delayed report?
He started to, but we were saved by the bell — the call ended right then.
I was completely unprepared for that question.
Were you saved by the bell? Someone interrupted with an announcement.
How did that conversation end?
Saved by the bell — her phone rang at exactly the right moment.
