horse-race
horse-race — noun
1. a sporting event in which horses ridden by jockeys run around a track and try to
a sporting event in which horses ridden by jockeys run around a track and try to be the first to cross the finish line
Thousands of fans packed the stands to watch the afternoon horse-race at Churchill Downs.
concrete: literal sporting event
Megan had never been to a horse-race and was amazed by how fast the horses ran.
The horse-race was delayed by twenty minutes because of the sudden thunderstorm over the track.
Every Saturday, Kenji's grandfather took him to the local horse-race.
- race
broader in meaning; can refer to foot races, car races, etc.
- horse race meeting
refers to a whole event with multiple races, not a single race
文法句型
a + horse-race
the + horse-race
2. a competition or election whose outcome can already be guessed before it ends, b
a competition or election whose outcome can already be guessed before it ends, because one person or group is so much stronger than the others
Analysts called the primary a horse-race because the senator had secured the party's support.
figurative use: outcome predictable in advance
The bidding war for the warehouse was a horse-race because Kwame's firm already owned the land next door.
Lakshmi told her class the science fair was a horse-race because one project was clearly ahead.
The race for class president was a horse-race from day one, with the popular incumbent far ahead in every poll.
- one-horse race
more common in British English; exactly the same meaning
- foregone conclusion
focuses on the outcome being certain rather than on the competition itself
- tight race
a contest where the outcome is uncertain
文法句型
a + horse-race
用法筆記
Distinguish from the phrase sense CLOSE CONTEST. This sense describes a competition where the winner is obvious in advance — the opposite of a tight, unpredictable contest.
常見錯誤
horse-race — idiom
1. an election, competition, or struggle that is very close and unpredictable, with
an election, competition, or struggle that is very close and unpredictable, with no clear winner until the very end
The election became a real horse-race after the two candidates tied in the debate.
figurative: close political contest
Analysts said the streaming market battle was a horse-race between two studios.
Both teams scored goal for goal, turning the final into a horse-race that thrilled the crowd.
João called the sales competition a horse-race; each representative was within a few points.
- neck-and-neck race
emphasises the tightness of the competition
- toss-up
informal; suggests either side could win
- landslide
a one-sided victory by a large margin
文法句型
a + horse-race
用法筆記
This figurative phrase is especially common in US political journalism (e.g., 'horse-race coverage' of an election). Do not confuse with the noun sense PREDICTED WINNER, which describes the opposite situation — a one-sided contest whose result is already clear.