VOCABULARY
あわや
a
あ
wa
わ
ya
や
in the nick of time / almost
almost, narrowly, just about to happen, barely
adverb
interjection
Example sentences
あわや大事故になるところだった。
It almost turned into a major accident.
あわやという瞬間に彼が止めた。
He stopped it just in the nick of time.
車はあわや崖から落ちそうになった。
The car narrowly avoided falling off the cliff.
あわや衝突かと皆が息をのんだ。
Everyone held their breath as a collision was just about to happen.
Practice exercises
1
落石が頭上をかすめ、あわや大怪我をするところだった。
A falling rock grazed overhead, and I was almost seriously injured.
Answer
あわや
2
決勝戦で、彼は足を滑らせ、あわや優勝を逃すかと思われたが、見事に立ち直った。
In the final match, he slipped, and it was almost thought he would lose the championship, but he recovered brilliantly.
Answer
あわや
3
転びそうになり、あわや大事故になるところだった。
I nearly fell, and it almost became a major accident.
Answer
あわや
4
車が急に止まり、あわや衝突するところだった。
The car suddenly stopped, and it was almost a collision.
Answer
あわや
5
歴史を振り返れば、あの時の判断が違っていたら、あわや国家の存亡に関わる事態に陥っていたかもしれない。
Looking back at history, if that decision at the time had been wrong, the nation might have almost fallen into a situation concerning its very existence.
Answer
あわや