a close runner up

USAGE SUMMARY

It is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe someone who almost won a competition or contest but ultimately came in second place. For example, "John was a close runner up in the talent show, but his performance was not quite enough to win the grand prize."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

Our Marxist section though is a close runner up; it's always fun to tell a customer that, no, Gramsci is not in our Political Philosophy section, he's over here in these bays devoted just to Marxist thought.

The Guardian - Books

While we are still diehard fans of the classic original, we admit this is a close runner up.

Huffington Post

That's high on the list, but the sheer misogyny of Tangled's "Mother Knows Best," capping off as it did decades of Disney's wretched and poisonous stereotypes about mothers, older women and undermining of even an iota of intergenerational sorority, is a close runner up.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

The Runners-Up: As a close runner-up, we chose Dolores's response to "Every Teenager Should Have a Summer of '65".

The New York Times

Bespoke: A close runner-up to "couture".

The New York Times

The Nets are a close runner-up, though.

The New York Times - Magazine

Santorum was a close runner-up in Iowa.

The Guardian

ABC was a close runner-up, largely because of "Desperate Housewives" (14.7 million).

The New York Times - Arts

Last week, Matthews finished a close runner-up for N.F.L. defensive player of the year to Pittsburgh safety Troy Polamalu.

The New York Times - Sports

Fox led the night over all, while NBC was a close runner-up, averaging 19.4 million viewers.

The New York Times

Pivovarsky Dum A close runner-up in the best beer competition is the yeast beer from this brewery.

The New York Times - Travel

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a close runner up" to highlight not just the second-place result, but also the minimal difference between the winner and the runner-up, adding emphasis to the competitiveness of the situation.

Common error

Avoid using "a close runner up" when there is no actual competition or ranking involved. For instance, don't say "This idea was a close runner up" if there weren't multiple ideas competing against each other.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a close runner up" functions as a descriptive phrase, typically used as a noun phrase or adjective phrase modifying a noun. It describes the entity that achieved the second-best position in a competition, emphasizing the narrow margin between first and second place. As Ludwig AI confirms, this usage is correct and commonly found.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

76%

Science

12%

Formal & Business

12%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "a close runner up" is a grammatically sound and widely understood expression used to describe the entity finishing second in a competition, with a particular emphasis on the narrow margin separating them from the winner. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is appropriate for various contexts, especially in News & Media. When using this phrase, consider the context to ensure that a competitive or ranked scenario exists. Alternatives like "a near winner" or "narrowly defeated" can be used depending on the specific nuance required. While the phrase is correct, it's important to avoid overuse in contexts where competition is not explicitly present.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

second best

Directly indicates the second position, removing the nuance of closeness.

near winner

Focuses on proximity to winning, omitting the competitive aspect.

just behind

Indicates a position slightly trailing the leader, applicable in various contexts.

narrowly defeated

Emphasizes the act of losing by a small margin.

in second place

States the ranking directly, lacking the emphasis on the small margin of difference.

almost victorious

Highlights the near-success aspect, rather than the final ranking.

a whisker away from winning

Uses a more figurative expression to indicate a very narrow margin of defeat.

a near miss

Focuses on almost achieving something, suitable for contexts beyond direct competition.

the bridesmaid

Informal idiom for someone who is always second, often in a humorous context.

next in line

Suggests being the immediate successor, not necessarily in a competitive setting.

FAQs

How to use "a close runner up" in a sentence?

Use "a close runner up" to describe someone or something that almost won a competition or achieved a goal, but finished in second place. For example, "In the election, the independent candidate was "a close runner up" to the incumbent".

What can I say instead of "a close runner up"?

You can use alternatives like "a near winner", "second best", or "narrowly defeated" depending on the specific context and the nuance you wish to convey.

Which is correct, "a close runner up" or "close runner-up"?

Both "a close runner up" and "close runner-up" are acceptable. The hyphenated version, "close runner-up", is more common in formal writing, while "a close runner up" is also widely used and understood.

What's the difference between "a close runner up" and "in second place"?

"A close runner up" implies that the difference between first and second place was minimal, highlighting the competitiveness. "In second place" is a more neutral statement of ranking without emphasizing the margin of difference.