Meaning & use
race to finish line
Last updated
Meanings
phrasefixed phrase
a competition or effort to reach the end of a race or task as fast as possible
Grammar: Often used with 'the': 'a race to the finish line'. Can be literal or figurative.
Patterns
- a race to the finish line
- race to the finish line
The runners were in a tight race to the finish line.
After months of work, the team was in a race to the finish line to submit the report on time.
It was a race to the finish line to get everything ready before the guests arrived.
phrasefixed phrasefigurative
a situation where people compete to be the first to achieve something
Grammar: Used figuratively for non-physical competitions. Often with 'the'.
Patterns
- a race to the finish line
- in a race to the finish line
The two companies are in a race to the finish line to launch the new product.
It's a race to the finish line to see who can raise the most money.
Common combinations
- a race to the finish line
- The election became a race to the finish line.
- in a race to the finish line
- They are in a race to the finish line to finish the project.
- race to the finish
- The final lap was a race to the finish.
Synonyms and how they differ
- sprint to the finish
- Emphasizes speed at the end, often used for a final burst of effort.
- home stretch
- Refers to the final part of a race or task, not the competition itself.
Commonly confused: race to finish line or finish line?
race to finish line vs finish line
The finish line is the physical line marking the end; the phrase 'race to the finish line' includes the competition to reach it.
Practice
Which sentence uses the phrase correctly?
Choose one answer.
The fixed phrase is 'a race to the finish line', with 'the' before 'finish line'. Option 2 misses 'the', option 3 misses 'a', and option 4 uses 'at' instead of 'to'.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “race to finish line”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.