nose
- noun
- /noʊz/
- Informal
- I managed to win the race by a nose, barely edging out my rival.
- win by a nose
- ahead by a nose
- victory by a nose
So David Gold Hill wins the Tootsie Roll, the nose had it.
- So David Gold Hill wins the Tootsie Roll, the nose had it.
Examples
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Uncaptured made an early debut in mid-May, getting home first by a nose in a 4 1/2-furlong maiden.
Blog text (7) -
Won by a nose did Gypsy Rose.
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And Blue Note wins it by a nose!
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It was a tight race but I won by a nose.
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The jockey on the other horse misjudged the finish line, and we won by a nose.
Blog text (18) -
The horse crossed the finish line first, winning by a nose over the competition.
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She lost the game by a nose, making it one of the closest matches ever.
Synonyms
A very small difference between two amounts or scores
A very small distance or amount
A very small distance in a close call
Antonyms
Idioms
- Informal
To show open disrespect by refusing to follow rules or customs
- Informal
To work hard for a long time on a difficult task without stopping
Deliberately do something that hurts you more than the person you want to punish
- Informal
To think about things beyond your own immediate needs
Compounds
- Specialized
The pointed front part of a rocket, missile, or plane that protects important parts and reduces air resistance during flight
A sudden steep fall that often happens to a plane with its front pointing down or to prices
- Specialized
An enlarged red nose with visible blood vessels that often comes from heavy drinking
- Archaic
A nose that becomes large and red with visible veins from long heavy drinking
How Narrow
Surface Forms
Etymology
Because the nose is the very front point of the head (from old nosu), people use it to show a tiny difference in a race. That is why winning 'by a nose' means winning by a very small distance.