죽을 뻔 했어

I almost died

→ 죽다

phrase Rare #16,283

I almost died An informal expression meaning that the speaker came very close to dying. The construction -(으)ㄹ 뻔하다 means “almost do something,” and 했어 is an informal past ending. It is commonly written as 죽을 뻔했어, without a space between 뻔 and 했어.

KO: 나는 어제 죽을 뻔 했어.

EN: I almost died yesterday.

너 죽을 뻔 했어!

You almost died!

— 신경쇠약 직전의 여자 (1988)

톰은 죽을 뻔 했어.

Tom almost died.

나는 어제 죽을 뻔 했어.

I almost died yesterday.