toss up

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "toss up" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to describe two things that are difficult to choose between because they are relatively equal in value or desirability. For example, "It's a toss up between the lemon tart and the chocolate cake for dessert; they both look delicious!".

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

8 human-written examples

Uh, toss up".

The New York Times - Health

Djokovic and Murray toss up.

The Guardian - Sport

King LeBron's Heat toss up bricks.

Huffington Post

The Cook Political Report rates the race a "toss up".

Huffington Post

It's a toss up, for sure.

TechCrunch

Graphics: Toss up, too early to tell.

TechCrunch

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

52 human-written examples

He tossed up lobs.

The New York Times

Kevin Love tossed up a "hang loose" sign.

The New York Times - Sports

Now he was tossing up with him.

The Guardian - Sport

He regressed last season and tossed up mounds of turnovers.

The Washington Post

And there's been some interesting things tossed up.

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "toss up" as a phrasal verb meaning to throw something or to decide by chance, keep it as two separate words without a hyphen.

Common error

Do not use "toss up" when you mean to discard or reject something; the correct phrase is "toss out". While "toss up" suggests equality or indecision, "toss out" implies a definitive removal.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "toss up" primarily functions as a noun phrase or phrasal verb. According to Ludwig AI, it is commonly used to denote a situation where two possibilities are equally likely. In its verb form, it can literally mean to throw something upward or metaphorically mean to produce or mention an idea casually.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Academia

15%

Formal & Business

8%

Less common in

Science

1%

Wiki

0.5%

Social Media

0.5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In conclusion, "toss up" is a versatile and correct English expression used to describe situations where results or choices are equally balanced. Ludwig examples show its heavy usage in political journalism to categorize "toss-up" states or races where neither candidate has a clear advantage. While it can function as a verb meaning to throw something up or decide by chance, its most common role is as a noun representing a 50/50 scenario. Writers should be careful to use the hyphenated form "toss-up" when it functions as a noun or an adjective and keep it separate as a verb. Overall, it is a highly useful phrase for expressing indecision or comparative equality in both professional and casual writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

dead heat

Refers specifically to a race or competition where contestants finish exactly equal

fifty-fifty

Focuses more on the mathematical probability of an outcome

too close to call

Used when a situation is so balanced that predicting a winner is impossible

even split

Describes an equal division of resources, opinions or outcomes

coin flip

Highlights the element of pure chance in a decision

anyone's game

A more competitive and sporting way to describe an uncertain result

even money

A betting term suggesting equal odds for both sides

stalemate

Implies a situation where neither side can gain an advantage

wash

Informal term for a situation where two factors cancel each other out

pick 'em

Used in sports betting when there is no clear favorite

FAQs

How do I use "toss up" in a sentence?

You can use "toss up" to describe a choice between two equally good or likely options. For example, "It is a "toss up" whether I should go to the gym or the park".

What can I say instead of "toss up"?

Depending on your context, you can use phrases like "fifty-fifty", "coin toss", or "even money".

Which is correct, "toss up" or "toss-up"?

Both are correct depending on the grammatical role. Use the hyphenated "toss-up" as a noun or adjective, and the open "toss up" as a verb.

What is the difference between "toss up" and "stalemate"?

A "toss up" suggests a decision that is hard to make because options are equal, whereas a "stalemate" describes a situation where no progress can be made by either side.