Dead heat Meaning in English
expression
Definition
A situation in a race or competition where two or more competitors finish at exactly the same time, with no clear winner.
Usage & Nuances
Most common in sports, especially racing. It often appears in news reports. Also sometimes used metaphorically for any situation with a tie or no clear winner. Not literal—'dead' means 'absolute', not related to death. Compare to 'tie' (general), but 'dead heat' often emphasizes the exactness of the finish.
Example Sentences
The race ended in a dead heat, so both runners got gold medals.
basic
It was a dead heat between the two chess players.
basic
The election result was a dead heat, with both candidates receiving the same number of votes.
basic
After three hours of tennis, the match finished in a dead heat.
natural
It’s a dead heat at the top of the league—the teams will have to fight for first place next week.
natural
The vote count was so close, it turned out to be a dead heat.
natural