Only just obtained freedom? (6,6)

I believe the answer is:

narrow escape

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'freedom?' is the definition.
Although both the answer and definition are singular nouns, I don't understand how one could define the other.

I don't understand how the rest of the clue works.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Another definition for narrow escape that I've seen is " Close shave".)

I've seen this clue in The Globe and Mail and The Telegraph.

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