toss-up: meaning & examples

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Language: English

Meanings:

  • 1.

    All English varietiesinformalneutral
    • A situation in which the outcome is uncertain and two or more alternatives appear equally likely; a close contest.

    Examples

    Beta

    • The final match between the two teams was a toss-up until the very last minute.

      El partido final entre los dos equipos fue incierto hasta el último minuto.

    • Deciding who should lead the project was a real toss-up among the candidates.

      Decidir quién debía liderar el proyecto fue una verdadera incertidumbre entre los candidatos.

    • The outcome of the election was a toss-up, with polls showing almost equal support.

      El resultado de la elección fue incierto, con encuestas mostrando apoyos casi iguales.

  • 2.

    All English varietiesneutralinformal
    • A decision made by chance or by a simple random method (originally by tossing a coin); a method for deciding between alternatives by luck.

    Examples

    Beta

    • We couldn't decide where to eat, so we made it a toss-up with a coin flip.

      No podíamos decidir dónde comer, así que lo dejamos al azar con el lanzamiento de una moneda.

    • When they couldn't agree on the winner, they settled it by a toss-up.

      Cuando no pudieron ponerse de acuerdo sobre el ganador, lo decidieron al azar.

    • Sometimes the only fair way to choose is by a toss-up.

      A veces, la única forma justa de elegir es al azar.

Examples:

  • EN: ( All Laughing ) It's been a toss-up between Lillian and that new French girl, Anna Held.
    ES: Estaba indeciso entre Lillian y esa francesa nueva, Anna Held.
  • EN: And before you were born, sir, when you were nothing but a toss-up between a girl's and a boy's name, I was a soldier.
    ES: Y antes de que hubiese nacido, cuando no era nada más que un nombre que se echaba a suertes, ¡yo era soldado!
  • EN: ( All Laughing ) It's been a toss-up between Lillian and that new French girl, Anna Held.
    ES: Estaba indeciso entre Lillian y esa francesa nueva, Anna Held.
  • EN: And before you were born, sir, when you were nothing but a toss-up between a girl's and a boy's name, I was a soldier.
    ES: Y antes de que hubiese nacido, cuando no era nada más que un nombre que se echaba a suertes, ¡yo era soldado!
  • EN: It was a sheer toss-up whether you or Titus went on from here.
    ES: -No, no, Cherry. Fue por un mero sorteo que tú o Titus os fuerais de aquí.
  • EN: Doc says it's a toss-up.
    ES: El médico dice que es cara o cruz.
  • EN: I heard him say if it's a toss-up as to who's lying, I lose!
    ES: Dice que si las comparan, la mía pierde.
  • EN: It's a toss-up, which happens first?
    ES: Es a cara o cruz.
  • EN: It's a toss-up.
    ES: - No lo sé con certeza.
    ES: Difícil.
  • EN: It's always a toss-up, do you go for better colour or do you go to sharpness, and which better represents, though neither can represent...
    ES: Buscas un color mejor o buscas más la definición. Es como echar una moneda al aire. ¿Qué es lo mejor, aunque no puede representar?
  • EN: - It's a toss-up, I can tell you that.
    ES: Está difícil, la verdad.
  • EN: For a while there, it was a toss-up whether I'd be a doctor or an actor.
    ES: Durante un tiempo no supe si estudiar para médico o para actor.
  • EN: They were used for the toss-up and fell in the mud
    ES: Se usaron para el sorteo y se cayeron al fango.
  • EN: Well, it's a toss-up.
    ES: A la derecha o a la izquierda.
  • EN: It's a toss-up, but we'll need the help of the police
    ES: Es un lanzamiento, pero necesitaremos la ayuda de la policía.
  • EN: Here's your toss-up.
    ES: Aqui esta la pregunta.
    ES: Aqui está su pregunta.
  • EN: According to the street, it's a toss-up.
    ES: Según lo que dicen allá afuera, no hay ninguna seguridad.

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Sourced from Wiktionary

Source: Wiktionary

toss-up: Meaning, Examples & Usage (English) | Idiomator