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photo-finish
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Quick Summary

A photo finish is a method used in sports to determine the winner of a race when contestants are so close that it's impossible to tell who finished first with the naked eye. A photograph is taken of the athletes as they cross the finish line, and this image is then examined to declare the winner.1

The term can also be used metaphorically to describe any very close contest. The first known use of the term "photo finish" dates back to 1935.1

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