IdiomDaily Life
French
FrenchÊtre coiffé au poteau
Meaning: To be beaten by a hair right at the finish.
Literally: To be capped at the post
Example: “Favori pendant toute la course, il s'est fait coiffer au poteau par un inconnu.” — The favorite for the whole race, he was pipped at the post by an unknown.
English equivalent: To be pipped at the post
Equivalents in other languages
English: pipped at the post
Origin: From horse racing, where coiffer is to overtake so narrowly that the winner's head covers the loser's at the winning post. It is now used of elections and contracts as readily as of races.
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