Jason: Who is winning the race?
Mike: It’s hard to say. Both sprinters are neck and neck.
Jason: Oh really? I should watch it.

Mike: Yes, come watch and you’ll see.
Jason: You’re right! They are so close and it’s hard to predict who will win the race.
Mike: Yup! I told you. It’s hard to say. They’re really close.

Jason이 Mike에게 “Who is winning the race? 야, 누가 이기고 있니?”라고 묻자 Mike가 “It’s hard to say. Both sprinters are neck and neck. 아직 누가 이길지 모르겠어. 둘이 막상막하야.”라고 하네요.

Jason이 “Oh really? I should watch it. 아, 그래? 나도 한번 봐야겠는데!”라고 하자 Mike가 “Yes, come watch and you’ll see. 그래 와서 보면 알 거야.” 라고 하더라고요.

이어Jason이 “You’re right! 네 말이 맞구나! They are so close and it’s hard to predict who will win the race. 와! 거의 엇비슷해서 누가 이길지 모르겠는데.”라고 하네요.

그러자 Mike가 “Yup! I told you. It’s hard to say. They’re really close. 내가 말했잖아. 둘이 대등하다고.”라고 대답합니다. Keep today’s phrase ‘neck and neck’ in mind and let’s hear the conversation again. 그럼 다시 한번 대화를 들어볼까요?

Jason: Who is winning the race?
Mike: It’s hard to say. Both sprinters are neck and neck.
Jason: Oh really? I should watch it.

Mike: Yes, come watch and you’ll see.
Jason: You’re right! They are so close and it’s hard to predict who will win the race.
Mike: Yup! I told you. It’s hard to say. They’re really close.

오늘 영어표현은 neck and neck입니다. Neck and neck means very close, exactly even or equal especially in a race or a competition. If two people who are competing are neck and neck, they are very close and either of them could win.

Neck and neck는 경마에서 나온 표현인데요 말 두 마리가 목 하나 차이를 두고 거의 엇비슷하게 달리는 경우가 있죠. 그렇게 되면 어느 말이 더 빨리 들어올지 예측이 어렵습니다. 이처럼 누가 더 낫고 누가 더 못한지 가리기 힘들 정도로 비슷한 상황일 때 neck and neck를 쓸 수 있습니다. ‘막상막하’라는 말을 떠올리시면 쉽게 이해가 가실 겁니다.

예를 들어볼까요? “Jake and Wendy were neck and neck in the 100-meter race.”라고 하면 “재이크와 왠디는 100미터 달리기에서 정말 막상막하였다.”라는 뜻입니다. Now you know what ‘neck and neck’ means right? Then let's listen to the conversation for the last time.

Jason: Who is winning the race?
Mike: It’s hard to say. Both sprinters are neck and neck.
Jason: Oh really? I should watch it.

Mike: Yes, come watch and you’ll see.
Jason: You’re right! They are so close and it’s hard to predict who will win the race.
Mike: Yup! I told you. It’s hard to say. They’re really close.

Let’s review. Neck and neck means very close, exactly even or equal especially in a race or a competition. NECK AND NECK. Now try using the phrase on your own.