neck and neck

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Explanation of "Neck and Neck"

Definition: The phrase "neck and neck" describes a situation where two or more competitors are very close to each other, especially in a race or competition. It means that they are almost equal and it is hard to tell who will win.

Usage Instructions:

• Adjective: Use "neck and neck" to describe a situation in a competition. For example, "The runners were neck and neck as they approached the finish line."
• Adverb: You can also use it to describe how close the competition is. For example, "The horses ran neck and neck throughout the race."

Examples:

1. Adjective: "In the final moments of the game, the teams were neck and neck."
2. Adverb: "She was neck and neck with her rival during the entire race."

Advanced Usage:

• "Neck and neck" can be used in more complex sentences to describe competitive situations in various fields, such as business or politics.
• Example: "In the election, the candidates were neck and neck, making it difficult to predict the winner."

Word Variants:

• There are no direct variants of "neck and neck," but it is often used in different contexts to describe close competitions, such as sports, elections, or contests.

Different Meanings:

• The phrase primarily refers to close competition. It does not have different meanings but is used in various contexts where there is a comparison or race.

Synonyms:

• Close
• Even
• Tight
• Competitive

Related Idioms:

• "Nip and tuck": This phrase means a situation that is very close, similar to "neck and neck." Example: "The race was nip and tuck until the very end."

Phrasal Verb:

• There are no specific phrasal verbs associated with "neck and neck," but you could use phrases like "keep pace with" to describe a similar situation of close competition.

Summary:

"Neck and neck" is a useful phrase for describing situations where two or more competitors are very close to each other in performance, making it hard to determine a winner.

Academic

Adjective

1. inconclusive as to outcome; close or just even in a race or comparison or competition
   • as they approached the finish line they were neck and neck
   • the election was a nip and tuck affair

Adverb

1. even or close in a race or competition or comparison
   • the horses ran neck and neck
   • he won nip and tuck

Synonyms

• head-to-head
• nip and tuck