Inklingo

How to Say "just barely" in Spanish

The Spanish word forjust barelyis pelosB2 level. This is a very common word in everyday Spanish.

English → SpanishB2

pelos

idiomatic expressionB2informal
close call
A tiny cartoon mouse diving through a narrow gap just as a large hand tries to catch it. A single strand of hair is stretched across the gap, illustrating the narrow margin of escape.

Examples

Llegamos al cine por los pelos antes de que empezara la película.

We got to the movie theater just barely before the film started.

El coche me pasó por los pelos.

The car missed me by a hair's breadth.

Always Plural

This phrase always uses the plural form: 'por los pelos', never 'por el pelo'.

Related Translations

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