dead heat
dead heat — noun
1. the result of a race where the leading competitors finish together at one precis
the result of a race where the leading competitors finish together at one precise moment, so that no single winner can be named
The horse race between Tariq's stallion and Manuela's mare ended in a dead heat.
collocation: end in a dead heat
Both sprinters crossed the finish line at the exact same instant, creating a dead heat.
creating a dead heat — result of simultaneous finish
The greyhound race was declared a dead heat after the two dogs finished together.
The swimming final produced a dead heat as both athletes touched the wall at once.
In the bicycle race, the two leaders created a dead heat that thrilled the crowd.
- landslide
a decisive victory by a large margin
用法筆記
Commonly used after verbs like 'end in', 'finish in', and 'declare'. The word 'dead' here is an old intensifier meaning 'complete' or 'absolute', not 'lifeless'.
常見錯誤
2. a situation in any contest, election, or comparison where two sides have exactly
a situation in any contest, election, or comparison where two sides have exactly the same score or level, so that neither can be called the winner
The election between Dylan and Lan was a dead heat, so officials ordered a recount.
collocation: dead heat between X and Y
After three rounds of the quiz competition, the two teams remained in a dead heat.
Opinion polls showed a dead heat between the two parties just days before the vote.
The chess tournament ended in a dead heat between the two grandmasters.
Final exam scores showed a dead heat, so the judges awarded both students the prize.
- tie
the most common alternative; slightly less dramatic in tone
- draw
specifically for sports matches with equal scores
- neck-and-neck race
implies very close competition but may not end in an exact tie
- blowout
informal; a competition won by a very large margin
用法筆記
Often used in non-racing contexts such as elections, public opinion polls, and game shows. Can be modified by 'virtual' (virtual dead heat) to mean extremely close but not exactly tied.