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

Two October surveys conducted on behalf of an independent Kentucky media consortium have shown that the race is a dead heat.

From The Daily Beast

The House freshman from Yell County is in a dead heat with Sen. Mark Pryor in the Arkansas Senate race.

From The Daily Beast

The race is currently considered a tossup by outside observers and polling has Ernst and Braley in a dead heat.

From The Daily Beast

While some House members are struggling mightily, others are keeping their races at at least a dead heat.

From The Daily Beast

The campaign for president has already begun, and the New Jersey governor is in a dead heat with Hillary Clinton.

From The Daily Beast

The interest in the game became quiescent, and he set to work to finish the story at a dead heat.

From Project Gutenberg

In the case of an undoubted dead-heat the game should go on as if nothing had happened.

From Project Gutenberg

Oh, the Thompsons won every cup until the Smalls arrived on a Monday; then 'twas a dead heat.

From Project Gutenberg

The Shubert theatres and Carnegie libraries are running a dead heat in an earnest endeavor to perpetuate their respective names.

From Project Gutenberg

In every race she is handicapped out of any chance of winning or even getting a dead heat.

From Project Gutenberg