too close to call

Idioms  

1. Resulting in too narrow a margin to make a decision, as in That ball didn't miss by much but it was too close to call, or The election was too close to call, so they decided to have a runoff. This expression comes from sports, where call has signified “a judgment” since the mid-1600s. In the 1960s it began to be applied to pre-election polls and then to the outcome of elections.

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Example Sentences

Orbán is due to meet with Vice President JD Vance this week ahead of an April election in Hungary, with polls too close to call.

From The Wall Street Journal

Upson feels this EFL Cup final falls into the "too close to call" category - but believes one factor makes him just favour Arsenal.

From BBC

Hollywood stars are gearing up for Sunday night's Oscars, in an exciting year for the awards race where several categories are too close to call.

From BBC

Sinners could take several statuettes at this weekend's Oscars, but it faces tough competition from co-frontrunner One Battle After Another, in a genuinely exciting year for the awards race where several categories are too close to call.

From BBC

With "Sinners" and "One Battle After Another" neck-and-neck for best picture and several acting races far too close to call, this Sunday's Oscars gala is shaping up to be the most unpredictable in years.

From Barron's