New Idioms Learned

dead heat

Definition:

1. A race in which two or more contestants compete evenly or finish at the same time.

2. A political campaign or other contest that is so close that it is impossible to predict the winner.

keep your eye on the ball
take your eye off the ball (opposite)

Definition:
to give your attention to what you are doing all the time.

If you're a manager, you can't afford to take your eye off the ball for one minute.

the gloves are off

Definition:
if the gloves are off in an argument or competition, the people involved have started to argue or compete in a more determined or unpleasant way.

She gave a second interview later that year but this time the gloves were off. Her ex-boss, she said, was 'a tyrant and a fraud'.

too close to call

Definition:
impossible to guess the result in advance.

Tonight's semifinals match is too close to call.