‘Dodged a bullet’ is an idiomatic expression that means to narrowly escape a difficult or dangerous situation. The phrase originates from the literal act of avoiding a bullet, suggesting that someone has just avoided a potential disaster.
This expression is often used in a figurative sense. For example, if someone almost makes a serious mistake but manages to avoid it, they might say they ‘dodged a bullet’. It speaks to the relief one feels after avoiding trouble or misfortune.
In everyday conversation, you might hear someone say, ‘I forgot to double-check my work, but luckily it didn’t lead to any consequences. I really dodged a bullet there!’ This emphasizes how fortunate they feel to have escaped a negative outcome.