An Idiom for Election Week

The term dead heat was originally used in horse racing. When two horses raced against each other and tied, the heat was called “dead” and did not count. The winner was undecided. This term is still used in horse racing, but is also used in political races. When two candidates are so close (according to the polls) that you can’t guess who will be declared the winner, it is considered “a dead heat”.

Related Words and Expressions

What is the opposite of a dead heat?  When a candidate wins by a large margin it is considered a landslide victory. Richard Nixon was re-elected in 1972 with a landslide victory. This term is also used in sports. My brother sent me a text yesterday to inform me of the results of my nephew’s hockey game. The text said: “It was an ugly win.” In other words, my nephew’s team won by a landslide. You could also say they won hands down.  The term “hands down” also came from horse racing. Jockeys who were way ahead of their opponents could loosen the reins, and win without putting in a lot of effort.

The candidates will likely be battling down to the wire (the finish line in horse racing). Do you think this election will require a recount?