nip and tuck

ADJECTIVE

very close and evenly contested

Synonyms

WEAK

abreast deadlocked drawn head-to-head level neck-and-neck parallel tied too close to call

ADVERB

very close and evenly contested

Synonyms

WEAK

abreast deadlocked drawn head-to-head level neck-and-neck parallel tied too close to call

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

It's nip and tuck between Gordon and Angus Gunn for a starting place against Haiti on Saturday.

From BBC • Jun. 9, 2026

“I was really proud of the way we responded when we got down. It was nip and tuck the whole way.”

From Seattle Times • Jan. 23, 2022

All of this year’s iPhones had a little nip and tuck along the edges.

From Washington Post • Oct. 14, 2020

Time passes, and even a contemporary classic can use a nip and tuck.

From Los Angeles Times • May 20, 2019

Katherine told me this morning that it was nip and tuck between Marie Austin and me.

From Betty Wales Freshman by Dunton, Edith K.