a close run thingBritish EnglishBrE a situation in which the people competing with each other are almost equal, so neither of them is more likely to win than the other 势均力敌,难分胜负 The upcoming election looks likely to be a close run thing. 即将来临的大选看来胜负难分。
a close run thing• It was a close run thing.• Exciting Ormskirk made it two wins out of three but it was a close run thing against New Brighton.
→ a close run thing at close3(4)