Synonyms for neck-and-neck

Grammar : Adj

Spell : nek

Phonetic Transcription : nɛk

Définition of neck-and-neck

Origin : Old English hnecca "neck, nape, back of the neck" (a fairly rare word) from Proto-Germanic *khnekkon "the nape of the neck" (cf. Old Frisian hnekka, Middle Dutch necke, Dutch nek, Old Norse hnakkr, Old High German hnach, German Nacken "neck"), with no certain cognates outside Germanic, though Klein's sources suggest PIE *knok- "high point, ridge" (cf. Old Irish cnocc, Welsh cnwch, Old Breton cnoch "hill").
The more usual Old English words were hals (the general Germanic word, cf. Gothic, Old Norse, Danish, Swedish, Dutch, German hals), cognate with Latin collum (see collar (n.)); and swira, probably also from a PIE root meaning "column" (cf. Sanskrit svaru- "post").
Transferred senses attested from c.1400. Phrase neck of the woods (American English) is attested from 1780 in the sense of "narrow stretch of woods;" 1839 with meaning "settlement in a wooded region." To stick one's neck out "take a risk" is first recorded 1919, American English. Horses running neck and neck is attested from 1799.

adj very close

Example sentences :

One man has rounded the summit, and two others follow him neck-and-neck.
Extract from : « The Shadow of a Crime » by Hall Caine

Then, with a bound, Dave came up, and the pair were neck-and-neck for the finish.
Extract from : « Dave Porter at Star Ranch » by Edward Stratemeyer

He yelped sharply, and the wolves raced in until four of them were neck-and-neck with him.
Extract from : « Kazan » by James Oliver Curwood

A thrilling rescue and a neck-and-neck race for the treasure followed.
Extract from : « Berry And Co. » by Dornford Yates

The brute had crossed his path far away from the pack, and he had flung himself out of saddle and had a neck-and-neck struggle.
Extract from : « Under Two Flags » by Ouida [Louise de la Ramee]

Joe was close behind, and now it became a neck-and-neck race between them.
Extract from : « Boys of The Fort » by Ralph Bonehill

It was a neck-and-neck race, and in a moment more four hands went up on the rock at practically the same time.
Extract from : « Dave Porter At Bear Camp » by Edward Stratemeyer

Phil and Roger were now neck-and-neck, with not quite half a mile of the race still to cover.
Extract from : « Dave Porter at Star Ranch » by Edward Stratemeyer

From the very outset it seemed that Merriwell and Mansford were in for a neck-and-neck match.
Extract from : « Frank Merriwell's Races » by Burt L. Standish

It was a neck-and-neck race between the rain and the Girl, but the Girl won.
Extract from : « Lucy Maud Montgomery Short Stories, 1902 to 1903 » by Lucy Maud Montgomery

Words or expressions associated with your search

Most wanted synonyms

Based on : Thesaurus.com - Gutenberg.org - Dictionary.com - Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019