nose ahead of

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "nose ahead of" is not a standard expression in written English and may cause confusion.
It could be used in a context where one is trying to convey being in a leading position or ahead of others, but it is not commonly recognized. Example: "In the race for innovation, our company is nose ahead of the competition."

News & Media

Sports

Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

22 human-written examples

I back Hamilton to nose ahead of Adlington on the final straight.

Independent

He brought the 4‐year‐old mare home a nose ahead of Atlantic Frost.

The New York Times

Bushido, with Bill Hartack up, finished second, it nose ahead of Spring Double.

The New York Times

Creator had a nose ahead of Destin, and Lani finished third behind them.

The New York Times - Sports

Caveat Competor, who went off at 12-1, finished a nose ahead of Mysterious Moll.

The New York Times - Sports

The favored Eltawaasul was second in a field of 12, a nose ahead of Regal Dynasty.

The New York Times - Sports

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

38 human-written examples

He is in front somewhat by default, having nosed ahead of a modest group of players who have not stood out in any particular way this spring training.

The New York Times - Sports

S&N said operating profits from the group's half-share in Baltic Beverages Holding, Russia's market leader, had nosed ahead of profits from its core UK business.

The Guardian - Business

Overall, CNN has nosed ahead of MSNBC in the audience that most matters to the news channels — viewers between the ages of 25 and 54 — though MSNBC still has more total viewers.

The New York Times

A recent survey found that nearly one in three Germans would in principle be willing to vote for the Pirates; they even nosed ahead of the Green Party in several opinion surveys as Germany's third most popular party.

The New York Times

Bracewell then cleaned up both Peter Burgoyne and Mark Footitt, two more reserves in this unimposing but combative Derbyshire side, and may have just nosed ahead of Neil Wagner in the contest for a spot at Lord's.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "nose ahead of" to add a touch of informal, figurative language when appropriate; for instance, in sports commentary or casual descriptions.

Common error

Avoid using "nose ahead of" repeatedly in formal reports or academic papers. This phrase can sound too casual and may undermine the seriousness of your writing. Choose more formal alternatives like "leading by a narrow margin" or "slightly exceeding" for a more professional tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "nose ahead of" functions primarily as a prepositional phrase, modifying a noun or verb to indicate a state of being slightly in the lead or slightly surpassing something else. Though used in real English examples as Ludwig shows, be aware of less frequent use of this expression in formal contexts.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Sports

30%

Business

15%

Less common in

Science

10%

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "nose ahead of" is a figurative expression used to describe a situation where someone or something is slightly in the lead. While grammatical, it is considered non-standard and may cause confusion, as stated by Ludwig AI. While found in reputable news sources and sports contexts, it leans toward a neutral to informal register. For formal writing, consider using alternatives such as "slightly ahead of" or "marginally leading". The expression's usage, as seen in Ludwig, often refers to competitive scenarios, reflecting its origin in horse racing. Despite its acceptability, be mindful of its clarity and appropriateness for the intended audience.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

slightly ahead of

Replaces the more figurative "nose" with "slightly", making the phrase more literal.

just ahead of

Substitutes "nose" with "just", conveying a marginal lead in a straightforward manner.

a bit in front of

Uses a more general term "in front" instead of the specific "nose ahead", indicating a lead.

leading by a nose

Maintains the "nose" metaphor but uses a different grammatical structure.

one step ahead of

Changes the metaphor to steps, implying progress and advancement.

in the lead over

Replaces the "nose" metaphor with a more direct expression of being in a lead.

marginally superior to

Shifts the focus to superiority rather than physical position.

gaining ground on

Suggests advancement and catching up, implying a potential future lead.

inching ahead of

Emphasizes the small and gradual nature of the lead.

slightly exceeding

Focuses on exceeding a certain level rather than being physically in front.

FAQs

What does it mean to be "nose ahead of" someone?

Being "nose ahead of" someone implies being slightly or marginally in the lead, whether in a race, competition, or any other situation where relative positions are important. It suggests a narrow advantage.

How can I use "nose ahead of" in a sentence?

You can use "nose ahead of" to describe a situation where someone or something is slightly in the lead. For example: "In the polls, candidate A is "nose ahead of" candidate B."

Are there formal alternatives to saying "nose ahead of"?

Yes, in formal contexts, you can use phrases like "slightly ahead of", "marginally leading", or "just in front of" to convey the same meaning as "nose ahead of" with a more professional tone.

What is the origin of the phrase "nose ahead of"?

The phrase likely originates from horse racing, where the difference between winning and losing can be as small as a horse's nose. It has since been adopted to describe similar situations in other contexts.