What does "Photo finish" mean?

A race or competition so close it needs a photograph to determine the winner. From horse racing—when the finish is so close, a photograph is needed to see who won. Used for any extremely close competition.

How do you use "Photo finish" in a sentence?

The election was a photo finish. It came down to a photo finish. That game was a real photo finish.

Photo finish

Slang Term AmericanBritishAustralian ★★★★☆ Common Neutral

用闪卡、测验和音频练习 WordLoci →

含义: A race or competition so close it needs a photograph to determine the winner.

需要照片才能确定胜者的极其接近的比赛或竞争。

Una carrera o competición tan reñida que necesita una fotografía para determinar el ganador.

写真判定が必要なほど僅差のレースや競争。

사진 판정이 필요할 정도로 박빙인 레이스나 경쟁.

From horse racing—when the finish is so close, a photograph is needed to see who won. Used for any extremely close competition.

源自赛马——当终点太接近时，需要照片来判断谁赢了。用于任何极其接近的竞争。

De las carreras de caballos—cuando el final es tan ajustado que se necesita una fotografía para ver quién ganó. Se usa para cualquier competición extremadamente reñida.

競馬由来の表現。あまりに接戦で写真を見ないと勝者がわからない。非常に僅差の競争に使われる。

경마에서 유래—결승이 너무 박빙이라 누가 이겼는지 사진으로 확인해야 할 때 사용. 아슬아슬한 경쟁이면 무엇이든 쓸 수 있다.

字面意思: Finish requiring photo review

例句

The election was a photo finish.
选举结果非常接近
Las elecciones fueron muy reñidas
選挙は写真判定級の僅差だった
선거는 사진 판정급의 접전이었다.
It came down to a photo finish.
最终是照片判定
Se decidió por muy poco
写真判定になった
결국 사진 판정까지 갔다.
That game was a real photo finish.
那场比赛真的是势均力敌
Ese partido fue realmente ajustado
あの試合は本当に僅差だった
그 경기는 정말 박빙이었다.

发音

/ˈfəʊtəʊ ˈfɪnɪʃ/

用法指南

语境: competition, close outcomes, racing

语气: excited, dramatic

✓ 正确说法

A photo finish.
照片判定
Un final reñidísimo
写真判定だ
사진 판정이었어.
Came down to a photo finish.
最后需要照片判定
Se decidió por photo finish
写真判定にもつれ込んだ
사진 판정까지 갔어.
It was a photo finish.
结果非常接近
Fue un final muy ajustado
僅差の勝負だった
완전 사진 판정이었어.

✗ 错误说法

Very close finish
Very close finish（非常接近的结果）
Very close finish (final muy reñido)
Very close finish（とても僅差のゴール）
아주 접전이었어
Too close to call
Too close to call（难分伯仲）
Too close to call (demasiado reñido para decidir)
Too close to call（判定できないほど接戦）
너무 아슬아슬했어

常见错误

Horse racing origin
Technology from 1930s

起源与历史

From horse racing—a camera at the finish line captures the exact moment.

词源: Horse racing slang, 1930s

最早记录: 1936

文化背景

Era: 1936 to present

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal

Pop culture: Horse racing; Olympic racing

Regional notes: Universal English horse racing term.

变体

Photo finishA photo finishPhoto-finish