neck and neck

1. So close that the advantage or lead shifts from one to the other or is virtually indistinguishable, as in The two are neck and neck in developing a new operating system for the computer. The term comes from horse racing, where the necks of two horses in competition appear to be side by side. [Early 1800s] For a synonym, see nip and tuck.

Example Sentences

The two rivals have been neck and neck for several years, including a #1 tie in 2023.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Recent polling suggests the three parties are pretty much neck and neck.

Read more on BBC

According to figures from Ecuador's national electoral council, this is a decisive win for Noboa - with about 56% of the vote - after polls before the election suggested it was neck and neck.

Read more on BBC

Overlaying their laps, Norris and Verstappen were neck and neck until the final chicane.

Read more on BBC

But exhilaration runs neck and neck with exhaustion.

Read more on Los Angeles Times