Cheat death
Definition 1 of 1
Pro Tip 1/3Idiomatic Usage
Used in informal settings, often to narrate personal experiences or close escapes. 
After surviving the avalanche, he said he cheated death.
Pro Tip 2/3Emotional Intensity
Conveys a strong emotional response to escaping danger, emphasizing the severity of the situation. 
When she woke up from the coma, everyone agreed she had cheated death.
Pro Tip 3/3Figurative Expression
It's not literal cheating; it's a creative way to say someone avoided dying unexpectedly. 
Climbing out of the wreck, he felt like he cheated death.