B2idiominformalpoliticsIELTS-friendly
neck and neck
USUK
exactly level in a race or competition, so either side could win
From horse racing. Used for elections, sport and business competition.
In context
The polls show the two candidates are neck and neck a week before the vote.
The two runners were neck and neck until the last hundred metres.
More idioms about politics
- a double standarda rule applied more strictly to one group than to another
- a grey areaa situation where the rules are unclear, so nobody is sure what is allowed
- a hidden agendaa secret reason or plan behind what someone says or does
- a hot potatoa difficult issue that people disagree about and nobody wants to deal with
- a lame ducka politician or government with little real power, often near the end of a term in office