渡(わた)りに船(ふね)

わたりにふね

expression

a godsend; just what was needed at just the right moment

1. a godsend; a timely offer arriving exactly when needed

Literally "a boat when you need to cross." Describes help or an opportunity that turns up precisely when one is stuck, making an unwelcome problem easy to solve.

その誘(さそ)いは渡(わた)りに船(ふね)だった。

That invitation was a godsend.

困(こま)っていたので、彼(かれ)の申(もう)し出(で)は渡(わた)りに船(ふね)だった。

I was in trouble, so his offer came just at the right moment.

引(ひ)っ越(こ)し先(さき)を探(さが)していたところに社宅(しゃたく)の話(はなし)が来(き)て、まさに渡(わた)りに船(ふね)だった。

Just as I was hunting for a new place, the offer of company housing came up — a real godsend.

Usage

Usually predicative — 渡(わた)りに船(ふね)だ / だった — and frequently reinforced with まさに (exactly, truly). It describes the timing of an offer, so there is normally someone or something providing the help.

Common collocations

まさに渡(わた)りに船(ふね): a godsend indeed
渡(わた)りに船(ふね)と引(ひ)き受(う)ける: to accept, seizing the timely chance
渡(わた)りに船(ふね)の申(もう)し出(で): a perfectly timed offer

Similar words

棚(たな)からぼたもち: an unexpected windfall — pure luck with no effort or need involved
地獄(じごく)に仏(ほとけ): salvation in dire straits — stronger, for rescue from genuine desperation

Related Words

Compare: 地獄(じごく)に仏(ほとけ) (salvation in dire straits)

general

Added 2026.8.13 9:22 · Revised 2026.9.4 21:31

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