Neck and neck

Meaning

The idiom "neck and neck" means to be very close or level with someone else, either literally or figuratively. It can also mean being evenly matched or in a dead heat.

Usage

• The two runners were neck and neck at the finish line.
• The two candidates for president were neck and neck in the polls.
• The company's profits were neck and neck with its competitors.
• The two friends had been neck and neck since college.
• The two teams played a neck and neck game, with neither able to gain a significant advantage. The usage of "neck and neck" can vary depending on the context. For example, it can be used in a more literal sense to describe two people or things that are physically close to each other, such as runners at a race or two friends who have lived in the same city for years. However, it can also be used figuratively to describe two groups or entities that are evenly matched or in competition with each other, such as two presidential candidates or two companies vying for market share.

Roots and History

The idiom "neck and neck" dates back to the 16th century and is believed to have originated from horse racing terminology. In horse racing, a jockey would grip onto the horse's neck and hold on tightly as they raced towards the finish line. Over time, the phrase became used more generally to describe two people or things that were very close or evenly matched.

Synonyms in English

• Even steven
• Eye to eye
• Side by side
• Shoulder to shoulder
• Breast to breast

Synonyms in other languages

• French: à l'épaule (meaning "at the shoulder")
• German: am Hals (meaning "on the neck")
• Spanish: en el cuello (meaning "in the neck")
• Italian: al collo (meaning "on the neck")
• Russian: на плече (meaning "on the shoulder")

Similar Idioms

• on the ball

• a whole new ball game

• never look a gift horse in the mouth