# saved by the bell

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/saved-by-the-bell
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

Rescued or favorably assisted by a timely interruption or by the sudden termination of difficult circumstances.

## Examples

- I did not know the answer, but the bell saved me.
- I was struggling to answer the difficult question when the class ended, and I was saved by the bell.
- Just as the argument reached a point of no return, the sudden arrival of the guests served as a distraction, leaving me saved by the bell.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.