How do you use "Neck and neck" in a sentence?

The two candidates are neck and neck in the polls. The race was neck and neck until the final stretch. Our sales numbers are neck and neck with the competitor's this quarter.

Neck and neck

American Slang Term American ★★★★★ Very Common Neutral

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Meaning: Extremely close in a competition, with neither side having a clear advantage.

在竞争中不相上下，双方都没有明显优势。

Extremadamente reñido en una competición, sin que ninguno de los dos tenga una ventaja clara.

接戦で、どちらにも明確な優位がない状態。

막상막하의 접전, 어느 쪽도 확실한 우위가 없는 상태.

In horse racing, 'neck and neck' describes two horses running so close together that their necks are side by side — impossible to tell who's ahead.

在赛马中，'neck and neck'形容两匹马跑得如此接近，脖子并排——根本分不出谁领先。

En las carreras de caballos, 'neck and neck' describe a dos caballos corriendo tan juntos que sus cuellos van a la par, siendo imposible saber quién va delante.

競馬で「neck and neck」は二頭の馬が首を並べて走り、どちらが先かわからないほど接近している状態を表す。

경마에서 'neck and neck'은 두 말이 목이 나란히 갈 정도로 가까이 달리는 것을 묘사한다——누가 앞서는지 구분할 수 없는 상태이다.

Examples

The two candidates are neck and neck in the polls.
两位候选人在民调中不分伯仲。
Los dos candidatos van codo con codo en las encuestas.
二人の候補者は世論調査でほぼ互角だ。
두 후보가 여론조사에서 막상막하다.
The race was neck and neck until the final stretch.
比赛一直到最后冲刺阶段都势均力敌。
La carrera fue codo con codo hasta la recta final.
レースは最終コーナーまで接戦だった。
레이스는 마지막 구간까지 접전이었다.
Our sales numbers are neck and neck with the competitor's this quarter.
这个季度我们的销售数字和竞争对手不相上下。
Nuestras cifras de ventas van parejas con las de la competencia este trimestre.
今四半期の売上は競合とほぼ互角だ。
이번 분기 매출이 경쟁사와 거의 엇비슷하다.

Pronunciation

Usage Guide

Context: close competition, elections, races

Tone: tense, exciting

✓ Do Say

It's neck and neck.
双方不相上下。
Van codo con codo.
接戦だ。
막상막하야.
The race is neck and neck going into the final lap.
进入最后一圈，比赛依然势均力敌。
La carrera va igualadísima de cara a la última vuelta.
最終ラップに入ってもまだ互角だ。
마지막 바퀴를 앞두고 막상막하다.

✗ Don't Say

Don't use for competitions that aren't actually close
不要用于实际上并不接近的竞争
No usar para competiciones que en realidad no están reñidas
実際には接戦でない競争には使わない
실제로 접전이 아닌 경쟁에는 사용하지 말 것

Origin & History

From horse racing, where the margin between horses is measured in body parts. Used since the mid-19th century.

Cultural Context

Era: Mid-19th century onwards

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal