neck and neck
Meaning
At the same level or position as someone else in a race or competition; neither side is ahead.
Origin
From horse racing: when two horses are so close that their necks are aligned, neither clearly leading. It later generalized to any close contest.
Notes
Implies a very close contest with no clear leader. Used for races, elections, rankings, or business results. Neutral tone; common in speech and writing.
Examples
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The two candidates are neck and neck in the latest polls.
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We were neck and neck for most of the race, but she pulled ahead at the end.
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Sales are neck and neck this quarter, so the bonus could go either way.
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The teams have been neck and neck all season.
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With two minutes left, the game was still neck and neck.
Grammar & Usage Notes
Often used with a linking verb or action verb: βbe neck and neck (with)β, βrun/ride neck and neckβ. Hyphenation βneck-and-neckβ appears as an adjective before a noun (neck-and-neck race).
Synonyms
- tied
- even
- level
- dead heat
- toe-to-toe
Antonyms
- far ahead
- in the lead
- win by a landslide
- run away with it