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Save by the Bell

What Does "Save by the Bell" Mean?

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"Save by the bell" is an English idiom. It means "to be rescued or spared from a difficult situation or misfortune at the last moment."

Examples in Sentences

Here are three examples of the idiom "save by the bell" used in a sentence:
  • He was about to miss his flight, but he was saved by the bell when it was delayed due to bad weather.
  • The team was losing the game, but they scored a winning goal just in time, saving by the bell.
  • Her timely intervention saved the project from failure, like a save by the bell.
meaning for save by the bell

What Is an Idiom?

An idiom is a commonly used expression whose meaning does not relate to the literal meaning of its words. In other words, if you were to translate "Save by the Bell" word for word, there is no guarantee the translation would help you to understand the meaning.

An idiom often includes a cultural or historical context that makes it difficult for non-native English speakers to understand. A phrase is classified as an idiom when a direct translation of the words does not reveal the meaning. Most idioms rely on shared knowledge or experiences known only to a specific community.

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