Definition

Noun: 1. A race result where the contestants are so close that the winner is determined by examining a photograph taken at the exact moment of finishing. This is the original and most literal meaning, used in sports like horse racing, athletics, and cycling. 2. Any competition or situation that is extremely close or nearly tied. This is a figurative extension, describing any contest where the outcome is uncertain until the very last moment.

Usage Examples

• Literal Sporting Context:
  • The 100-meter dash resulted in a photo finish, and the judges needed several minutes to review the image and declare the champion.
  • It was a photo finish at the Kentucky Derby, with two horses appearing to cross the line simultaneously.
• Figurative/General Context:
  • The election was a photo finish, with the final vote count separated by only a few hundred ballots.
  • The two companies were in a photo finish to release the new technology first.

Advanced Usage

• "to end in a photo finish": To conclude in an extremely close manner.
  • The championship game ended in a photo finish, with the winning goal scored in the final second.
• "to be decided by a photo finish": To have the winner determined by a photographic review.
  • Because the swimmers touched the wall almost together, the medal had to be decided by a photo finish.

Variants and Related Words

• Photo-finish (adjective, often hyphenated): Describing a race or situation of this type.
  • It was a photo-finish race for the ages.

Synonyms

• Close finish (general)
• Narrow victory/win (general)
• Dead heat (specifically for an exact tie, which a photo finish is used to break)

Related Idioms and Phrases

• Too close to call: An idiom describing a race or competition where the result is too close to declare a winner immediately, often leading to a photo finish in sports.
  • The race was too close to call, so officials turned to the photo finish camera.
• By a nose/hair/whisker: Idioms describing winning by an extremely small margin, which is the typical result of a photo finish.
  • He won the race by a nose, resulting in a dramatic photo finish.

Noun

1. in general, any very close finish; in particular, a finish of a race in which the contestants are so close together that the winner must be determined from a photograph taken at the instant of finishing