saving by the bell

Verb

save by the bell (third-person singular simple present saves by the bell, present participle saving by the bell, simple past and past participle saved by the bell)

1. (transitive) In a boxing or wrestling match or similar competition, to ring the bell which concludes the round and thereby to prevent a competitor who has been knocked down from being counted out by the referee.
   • With 35 seconds left in the fight, the Siberian Rocky landed a lethal right hook that staggered Bradley and forced him to take a knee following a few more hard blows, thus saving Bradley by the bell.2013 December 30, “Behind The Gloves 2013 Picks!”, in Behind the Gloves, archived from the original on 14 Mar 2016, retrieved 22 Jan 2014
2. (broadly, idiomatic, transitive) To rescue or favorably assist (someone) by means of a timely interruption or the sudden termination of difficult circumstances.
   • The waitress brought the coffee about this time, saving me by the bell, as it were.1951 April, Charles Bell, "Sea Rescue," Motor Boating, p. 36 (Google preview)