win on points

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Succeed but barely, especially by a technicality. For example, Both sides were forceful in that argument about the embargo, but I think the senator won on points. This term comes from boxing, where in the absence of a knockout the winner is decided on the basis of points awarded for each round. Its figurative use dates from the mid-1900s.

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Which of the following words describes “sky blue”?

navy

beryl

azure

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Words nearby win on points

winnow, Winny, wino, Winona, win one's spurs, win on points, win out, win over, Winslet, Winslow, winsome

How to use win on points in a sentence

Just the hard-on before you shoot unarmed members of the public.
'Babylon' Review: The Dumb Lives of Trigger-Happy Cops|Melissa Leon|January 9, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Except the Braves did not win 14 straight pennants (they did win 14 straight division titles), and Smoltz is a also Republican.
Conservative Curt Says His Politics, Not His Pitching, Kept Him Out of the Hall of Fame|Ben Jacobs|January 9, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Genetics alone does not an eating disorder make, generally speaking, and Bulik points out that environment still plays a role.
How Skinny Is Too Skinny? Israel Bans ‘Underweight’ Models|Carrie Arnold|January 8, 2015|DAILY BEAST
In 1992, Republican George H.W. Bush won the Asian-American vote by 24 points.
Asian-Americans Are The New Florida|Tim Mak|January 8, 2015|DAILY BEAST

By 2012, Democratic President Barack Obama owned the Asian-American vote, winning it by 47 percentage points.
Asian-Americans Are The New Florida|Tim Mak|January 8, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Bessires was included because he would never win it at any later date, but his doglike devotion made him a priceless subordinate.
Napoleon's Marshals|R. P. Dunn-Pattison
The real experience has a magnetism of its own and will win above mere technicality whenever it has the opportunity.
Expressive Voice Culture|Jessie Eldridge Southwick
Let us look over these points again, and make the matter still clearer and more simple.
God and my Neighbour|Robert Blatchford
Great preparations had been made, and the success must have been perfect to win so general and hearty a commendation.
Glances at Europe|Horace Greeley
All the miserable stratagems they had been guilty of to win him; the dishonest plotting and planning.
Elster's Folly|Mrs. Henry Wood