WordGarden.iotoss-up
Pronunciation
UK
US
Meanings
Noun
a contest, choice, or outcome that is too close or uncertain to predict
Beyond the definition
A "toss-up" describes a situation where the outcome is uncertain and could go either way. Think of flipping a coin; before it lands, the result is a toss-up. It is often used in games, sports, or elections when two sides seem so evenly matched that no one can confidently predict the winner. A basketball game tied in the final seconds? That's a toss-up. The term comes from the literal act of tossing up a coin to decide between two options, which suggests an even chance.
The word "toss-up" originally referred to the literal act of deciding a matter by throwing a coin into the air. If you and a friend were arguing over who should get the last slice of pizza, you might settle it with a toss-up—letting fate decide the winner in an instant.
Today, we use "toss-up" more broadly to describe any situation where the outcome is hard to predict, especially when two sides seem almost evenly matched. It usually suggests that either side has a real chance of winning. In politics, an election where polling shows the candidates are neck and neck is often labeled a toss-up. In the world of competitive trivia or quiz bowl, a "toss-up" is also a specific kind of question that either player or team can answer first by buzzing in.
You will frequently hear this term in sports broadcasting and news reporting to convey a sense of unpredictability. For instance, "The championship was a real toss-up until the final buzzer." Essentially, if something is a toss-up, you should prepare for any result, because even the experts can't say for sure what will happen!
Examples
- 1
Election
With both candidates polling at almost the same level, the election is still a toss-up.
- 2
Personal choice
For me, it's a toss-up between the blue jacket and the black one.
- 3
Uncertain outcome
It's a toss-up whether we'll finish today or have to come back tomorrow.
See also
Similar
- even chance
- fifty-fifty chance
- coin toss
Shades of meaning
- too close to call
- up in the air
Contrast
- sure thing
- foregone conclusion
Used with (collocations)
- a toss-up between
- it's a toss-up
- a toss-up whether
Explore
- odds
- margin of error
Forms and spellings
1 form open this card.
Main spelling
- toss-upnoun