What does "Pip at the post" mean?

To narrowly defeat someone at the last moment. To beat someone by the smallest margin, right at the finishing line. From horse racing.

How do you use "Pip at the post" in a sentence?

We were pipped at the post for the contract. She pipped him to the post for the promotion. They got pipped at the post in the final seconds.

Pip at the post

Slang Term BritishAustralian ★★★☆☆ Moderate Neutral

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Meaning: To narrowly defeat someone at the last moment.

在最后一刻险胜某人。

Derrotar a alguien por poco en el último momento.

最後の瞬間に僅差で負かす。

마지막 순간에 근소한 차이로 이기다.

To beat someone by the smallest margin, right at the finishing line. From horse racing.

以最小的差距在终点线击败某人。源自赛马。

Ganar a alguien por el margen más pequeño, justo en la línea de meta. Viene de las carreras de caballos.

ゴール直前でわずかな差で相手を負かすこと。競馬に由来。

결승선 바로 앞에서 아주 근소한 차이로 이기다. 경마에서 유래한 표현.

Literal meaning: Win by a 'pip' (small margin) at the finish post

Examples

We were pipped at the post for the contract.
我们在最后关头输掉了合同
Nos ganaron en el último momento el contrato
契約でギリギリのところで負けた
우리는 계약에서 아슬아슬하게 졌다.
She pipped him to the post for the promotion.
她在升职上险胜他
Ella le ganó por los pelos el ascenso
彼女は昇進で彼を土壇場で出し抜いた
그녀는 승진에서 마지막 순간에 그를 제쳤다.
They got pipped at the post in the final seconds.
他们在最后几秒被绝杀了
Les ganaron en los últimos segundos
最後の数秒で逆転負けした
그들은 마지막 몇 초 만에 역전패를 당했다.

Pronunciation

/pɪp ət ðə pəʊst/

Usage Guide

Context: narrow defeat, close competition, last-minute loss

Tone: rueful, sporting

✓ Do Say

Pipped at the post.
在最后关头被超越了
Nos ganaron en el ultimo momento
最後の最後で負けた
마지막에 역전당했어
Pipped to the post.
在终点前被反超了
Nos adelantaron en la meta
ゴール直前で追い抜かれた
결승선 앞에서 추월당했어
Got pipped at the post.
在最后一刻被逆转了
Nos arrebataron la victoria en el ultimo instante
土壇場で逆転された
마지막 순간에 뒤집혔어

✗ Don't Say

Narrowly beaten
Narrowly beaten（太普通）
Narrowly beaten (demasiado común)
Narrowly beaten（普通すぎる）
Narrowly beaten (너무 평범함)
Lost at the last minute
Lost at the last minute（不够生动）
Lost at the last minute (menos expresivo)
Lost at the last minute（表現が弱い）
Lost at the last minute (표현이 약함)

Common Mistakes

Both 'at' and 'to' the post are used
British expression mainly

Origin & History

From horse racing—winning by the smallest margin at the post.

Etymology: British horse racing

First recorded: Early 20th century

Cultural Context

Era: Traditional to present

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal

Pop culture: Horse racing; Sports commentary

Regional notes: British and Australian expression.

Variations

Pip at the postPipped to the postPipped at the post