dead heat

noun

1. a race in which two or more competitors finish in a tie.
2. the result of such a race; tie.

dead heat

noun

1. 1. a race or contest in which two or more participants tie for first place
   2. a tie between two or more contestants in any position

Word History and Origins

Origin of dead heat¹

First recorded in 1790–1800

Idioms and Phrases

A contest in which the competitors are equally matched and neither can win; a tie. For example, The two companies are in a dead heat to get a new personal computer on the market . This term comes from 18th-century British horse racing and is still part of racing terminology. It later was transferred to other kinds of competition.

Example Sentences

Polling has showed the race in a dead heat in Nevada, but also in six other swing states.

From Los Angeles Times

Nationwide, more than 78 million people nationwide have voted early, with many standing in line for hours to cast their ballots in a presidential race that, polls have shown, is a dead heat.

From Los Angeles Times

Polls showed Pennsylvania in an apparent dead heat and the six other battlegrounds — Michigan, Wisconsin, Georgia, North Carolina, Arizona and Nevada — also too close to call, as voting wraps up on Tuesday.

From Los Angeles Times

“I wish they could dead heat one, two, three, but it didn’t happen,” Baffert said.

From Los Angeles Times

It's tough to say if this bet was bad, as the polls remain in a dead heat in the last week.

From Salon