nip and tuck
adjective or adverb
: being so close that the lead or advantage shifts rapidly from one opponent to another
Examples of nip and tuck in a Sentence
the race was nip and tuck to the very end, with the judges needing to look at photos of the finish three times
Recent Examples on the Web
The competition is also getting a little nip and tuck — emphasis on the tuck — with a totally new tournament-style format: The 18 queens will be divided into three groups of six, with each individual group competing over three episodes.
—
Andy Swift, TVLine, 23 Apr. 2025
Since election day, the race for second place has been nip and tuck, with Tordillos and Quevedo flip-flopping positions multiple times throughout the last week-and-a-half.
—Devan Patel, Mercury News, 19 Apr. 2025
The first 20 minutes of Friday’s game was very nip and tuck; both teams looked very evenly matched.
—Antonio Chaurand, Baltimore Sun, 9 Nov. 2024
Owings Mills ended Sparrow’s Point’s three-year reign as Baltimore County wrestling tournament champion as the Eagles survived a nip and tuck struggle until the end, winning the title over the runner-up Pointers, 175-160, at Perry Hall.
—Craig J. Clary, Baltimore Sun, 20 Feb. 2024
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Andy Swift, TVLine, 23 Apr. 2025
Since election day, the race for second place has been nip and tuck, with Tordillos and Quevedo flip-flopping positions multiple times throughout the last week-and-a-half.
—Devan Patel, Mercury News, 19 Apr. 2025
The first 20 minutes of Friday’s game was very nip and tuck; both teams looked very evenly matched.
—Antonio Chaurand, Baltimore Sun, 9 Nov. 2024
Owings Mills ended Sparrow’s Point’s three-year reign as Baltimore County wrestling tournament champion as the Eagles survived a nip and tuck struggle until the end, winning the title over the runner-up Pointers, 175-160, at Perry Hall.
—Craig J. Clary, Baltimore Sun, 20 Feb. 2024
See All Example Sentences for nip and tuck
Cite this Entry
“Nip and tuck.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/nip%20and%20tuck. Accessed 20 May. 2025.
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nip and tuck
adjective or adverb
: so close that the advantage shifts rapidly from one contestant to another
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