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Definition

To win by a small margin; to have a narrow victory.

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Origins

From horse racing, where the winning horse is slightly ahead, and the length of the nose separates it from the runner-up.

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Related Idioms

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edge out

To defeat in a contest or a game by a narrow margin of victory.

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camel's nose

A situation where the permitting of some small act will lead to a larg…

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button nose

A nose with a small size and a relatively flat, round shape, usually c…

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at a pinch

by a small margin or amount

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by a hair's breadth

By a narrow margin.

 b

by the skin of one's teeth

Barely; closely; by a narrow margin; with nothing to spare.
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