Dictionary

neck and neck en · X

Etymology

Figurative, from the image of competing horses abreast in a horse race who are so even (headed for a tie) that their necks are side-by-side.

Meanings

1. (idiomatic) Very close in progress, as in a race or a contest.
   • [...] Mr. M. N. Rollason points out that on four-track lines on which the fast lines, in the centre, are flanked by the slow lines, and running at speed is permissible on all four, the traveller can enjoy some quite exciting experiences when trains are doing a "neck-and-neck" on adjacent lines. 1944 May and June, “Notes and News: Express Travel on Slow Lines”, in Railway Magazine, page 184:
   • The polls suggest that the candidates were neck and neck in the election.
   • Passing Iver, W.R. 4-6-0 No. 1012 County of Denbigh on the up "Capitals United Express" runs neck-and-neck with a parcels train headed by 4-6-0 No. 6821 Leaton Grange. 1960 July, Trains Illustrated, page 410, photo caption:
   • Mr. Prendergast's Rainbow filly, watched closely by Paul Jones, took the lead, and they ran almost neck and neck until near the cords, when Paul Jones made a rush, and came home by a length. 1825 November, “Sporting Intelligence”, in Sporting Magazine, volume 17, number 98, page 45:
   • It lay between me and Dick Riot madam; we were neck and neck for three miles, as hard as we could lay leg to ground, and running every inch, but at the first, I felt for him, found I had the foot […] 1779, Charles Macklin, Love à-la-mode, etc., page 20:

Forms

Relateds

photo finish · dead heat

Synonyms

nip and tuck

Translations (31)

fi rinta rinnan (very close in progress) · el στήθος με στήθος (very close in progress) · ko 막상막하 (very close in progress) · fi ritirinnan (very close in progress) · cmn 不分軒輊 /不分轩轾 (very close in progress) · pl łeb w łeb (very close in progress) · cmn 旗鼓相當 /旗鼓相当 (very close in progress) · el σώμα με σώμα (very close in progress) · hu fej fej mellett (very close in progress) · es cabeza a cabeza (very close in progress) · ru вро́вень (very close in progress) · de Kopf an Kopf (very close in progress) · tr başa baş (very close in progress) · es igualados (very close in progress) · fr coude à coude (very close in progress) · cmn 並駕齊驅 /并驾齐驱 (very close in progress) · ga gob le gob (very close in progress) · es parejos (very close in progress) · te నువ్వా నేనా (very close in progress) · cmn 不相伯仲 (very close in progress) · ru ноздря́ в ноздрю (very close in progress) · ca frec a frec (very close in progress) · cmn 平分秋色 (very close in progress) · nl nek aan nek (very close in progress) · ga gob ar ghob (very close in progress) · cmn 勢均力敵 /势均力敌 (very close in progress) · cmn 不相上下 (very close in progress) · te పోటా పోటీ (very close in progress) · pt emparelhado (very close in progress) · yue 叮噹馬頭 /叮当马头 (very close in progress) · pt pau a pau (very close in progress)