Definition

Noun: 1. An unpredictable situation; an even chance: A situation where two possible outcomes are equally likely, making it impossible to predict the result. It often refers to a close contest or a matter of pure chance. 2. The flipping of a coin to decide something: The literal act of tossing a coin into the air to make a random choice between two options.

Examples

• As an unpredictable situation:

  • The election is a complete tossup; both candidates have 50% in the polls.
  • Whether it will rain during the picnic is a tossup.
  • It's a tossup which restaurant is better; they are both excellent.

• Referring to a coin flip:

  • We settled the argument with a simple tossup.
  • The referee called for a tossup to decide which team would receive the ball first.

Advanced Usage

• "too close to call": A near synonym often used in competitive contexts like elections or races, emphasizing that the outcome is uncertain because the competitors are so evenly matched.
  • The race was too close to call until the final votes were counted.

Variants and Related Words

• Toss-up (noun): The hyphenated form is equally correct and common.
• Toss (verb): To throw something lightly or casually. From this verb, the noun "tossup" is derived, literally meaning "the act of tossing up."
• Coin toss (noun phrase): A more specific term for deciding something by flipping a coin.

Synonyms

• Even chance
• Fifty-fifty
• Dead heat (specifically for races/competitions)
• Toss of a coin

Related Idioms

• "A toss of the coin": Used to describe a decision or outcome based purely on chance.
  • Choosing between them was a toss of the coin; they were equally qualified.
• "Call it in the air": What you say during a coin toss when you make your prediction (heads or tails) while the coin is spinning.
  • "Heads!" she said, calling it in the air.

Noun

1. an unpredictable phenomenon
   • it's a toss-up whether he will win or lose