pipped
Lost by inches
Pipped means narrowly defeated or beaten at the last moment, especially when victory seemed assured: She was pipped at the post by a competitor who came from behind.
The phrase pipped at the post comes from British horse racing, where the post is the finish line and a pip is the smallest margin.
Primarily British usage.
Race completion marker
- photo finishRace decided by camera
- dead heatTied competition result
- down to the wireUnresolved until the final moment
- nail-bitingExtremely tense or anxious
close call · last-gasp · thrilling · heartbreak · breathtaking · clinch · nose ahead · second place
- nippedBit with quick pressure
- beatenHaving lost a contest
- overtakenPassed while moving
- bestedOvercame in a contest
outdone · defeated · outpaced · surpassed · eclipsed · outstripped · outmatched · outclassed
Stiff facial bristle
- hairbreadthExtremely narrow margin
- sliverThin split-off piece
- inchTwelfth of a foot
- fractionPart divided by whole
smidgen · tad · barely · scarcely · just · by a nose · razor-thin · wafer-thin
Shocked into speechlessness
- shockedDeeply startled or appalled
- guttedEmptied of contents
- crestfallenSad from disappointment
- heartbrokenOverwhelmed with grief
devastated · disappointed · dismayed · disheartened · deflated · demoralized · taken aback · blindsided
Pass while moving faster
- lapOne complete circuit
- sprintBrief maximum-speed effort
- accelerationRate velocity changes
- checkpointInspection station on route
qualifying · pole position · fastest · time trial · circuit · grid · pit stop · rally
finish line
Race completion marker
- photo finishRace decided by camera
- dead heatTied competition result
- down to the wireUnresolved until the final moment
nail-biting · close call · last-gasp · thrilling · heartbreak · breathtaking · clinch · nose ahead · second place · runner-up
edged out
bested · outdone · defeated · outpaced · surpassed · eclipsed · outstripped · outmatched · outclassed · overcome
whisker
Stiff facial bristle
- hairbreadthExtremely narrow margin
- sliverThin split-off piece
- inchTwelfth of a foot
fraction · smidgen · tad · barely · scarcely · just · by a nose · razor-thin · wafer-thin · fractionally
stunned
Shocked into speechlessness
- shockedDeeply startled or appalled
- guttedEmptied of contents
- crestfallenSad from disappointment
heartbroken · devastated · disappointed · dismayed · disheartened · deflated · demoralized · taken aback · blindsided · unexpected
overtake
Pass while moving faster
- lapOne complete circuit
- sprintBrief maximum-speed effort
- accelerationRate velocity changes
checkpoint · qualifying · pole position · fastest · time trial · circuit · grid · pit stop · rally · drag race