close victory

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "close victory" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation where the outcome of a competition, election, or game is decided by a very small margin. Example: "The match ended in a close victory for the home team, with only a single point separating the two sides."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Sports

Politics

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

48 human-written examples

Mr Calderón's close victory in 2006 came with her support.

The Economist

A close victory over a heated rival, with no interceptions and a 63percentt completion rate.

The New York Times - Sports

The close victory will most likely drop No. 9 Notre Dame in the polls.

The New York Times - Sports

Even in the close victory in Christchurch, lock Brodie Retallick held his own against Ireland's experienced campaigners.

The New York Times - Sports

The government may yet eke out a close victory, particularly if it can leverage its "status quo" advantage.

Independent

ILLINI'S CHARMED RUN In the title game, Illinois will close its charmed season with a close victory over Connecticut.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

8 human-written examples

Close victories.

The New York Times - Sports

Arrange other boundaries to win close victories, "cracking" opposition groups into many districts.

The New York Times

So their biggest impact is to re-inforce front-runners, turning close victories into landslides.

The Economist

Since, to a first approximation, all the Jets wins have been either close victories over bad teams (Detroit), or close victories over good teams (Pittsburgh), or else big losses to excellent teams (New England), it looks dire.

The New Yorker

But younger teams such as Vancouver and the Los Angeles Clippers displayed composure in close victories over the Nets last week.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing a sports game or competition, use "close victory" to convey the tension and excitement of a tightly contested match. This adds depth and emotion to your narrative.

Common error

Avoid confusing "close victory" with a "closed victory". "Close" refers to the small margin of winning, while "closed" might incorrectly suggest the victory is no longer open to dispute.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "close victory" functions primarily as a noun phrase, where "close" modifies the noun "victory". It describes the manner in which the victory was achieved, emphasizing the narrow margin. As confirmed by Ludwig, the phrase is considered correct and usable in English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Wiki

21%

Formal & Business

6%

Less common in

Science

23%

Reference

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "close victory" is a frequently used and grammatically sound phrase that describes a win achieved by a narrow margin. Ludwig AI validates its correctness and usability in English. Its usage spans across various contexts, including news, sports, and politics, and it maintains a neutral register. Alternative phrases such as "narrow win" or "slim victory" can be used to add variety to your writing. Remember to use "close" to refer to the small margin of victory and don't confuse it with "closed". Overall, "close victory" is a reliable and versatile phrase for conveying a tightly contested win.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Narrow win

Replaces "close" with "narrow", emphasizing the small margin of victory.

Slim victory

Uses "slim" instead of "close", highlighting the thinness of the margin.

Tight victory

Employs "tight" to convey the small difference in the outcome.

Marginal victory

Replaces "close" with "marginal", focusing on the barely sufficient nature of the win.

Hard-fought victory

Highlights the effort required to achieve the win, adding a layer of difficulty.

Edge-of-the-seat win

Emphasizes the excitement and tension associated with the closely contested victory.

Hairbreadth victory

Uses a more figurative expression to describe the narrowness of the win.

Squeaked-out victory

Indicates a win obtained with difficulty and by a very small margin.

Last-minute win

Suggests that the victory was secured very late in the game or competition.

Come-from-behind win

Implies that the victory was achieved after initially being behind or losing.

FAQs

What does "close victory" mean?

A "close victory" signifies a win achieved by a narrow margin, where the difference between winning and losing is very small.

What can I say instead of "close victory"?

You can use alternatives like "narrow win", "slim victory", or "tight victory" depending on the context.

Is "close victory" a formal or informal expression?

"Close victory" is suitable for both formal and informal contexts, making it a versatile phrase for various writing styles.

How do I use "close victory" in a sentence?

Example: "The team secured a "close victory" after a grueling match."