level / neck and neck
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neck and neck
Describes the state in which two or more people or things in a competition or comparison have reached the same position, the same score, or the same level.
Die beiden Läuferinnen lagen bis kurz vor dem Ziel gleichauf.
The two female runners were neck and neck until shortly before the finish.
level with
Expresses that something is at exactly the same height or in line with something else.
Als das Auto mit dem Radfahrer gleichauf war, wechselte es die Spur.
When the car was level with the cyclist, it changed lanes.
The adverb 'gleichauf' (level/neck and neck) is made up of 'gleich' (equal) and 'auf' (on, up). Literally, it means being at the same height or at the same level.
Im Rennen waren die beiden Favoriten lange Zeit gleichauf.
In the race, the two favorites were neck and neck for a long time.
To name the person or thing with which someone or something is at the same level, you use the preposition 'mit' followed by the dative. The pattern is: 'gleichauf sein/liegen mit jemandem/etwas' (to be/be lying level with someone/something; to be neck and neck with someone/something).
Die Firma liegt nun mit ihrem stärksten Konkurrenten gleichauf.
The company is now level with its strongest competitor.
'Gleichauf' (level/neck and neck) is very frequently combined with the verbs 'sein' (to be) and 'liegen' (to be positioned/stand) to express the state of being tied or level.
Nach der ersten Runde lagen beide Teams gleichauf.
After the first round, both teams were level.
The meaning depends on the context. In sports, elections, or business, 'gleichauf' (level/neck and neck) means an equal score or equal success. In a spatial context, e.g. in traffic, it means being at the same physical level.
In der letzten Umfrage sind beide Parteien gleichauf.
In the latest poll, both parties are neck and neck.
level on points
Gleichauf and punktgleich can both express a tie in a competition. Punktgleich explicitly refers to having the same number of points, while gleichauf can also mean being in the same position or at the same level. Use punktgleich for an exact score and gleichauf for a more general tie.
Nach zehn Runden lagen beide Teams in der Tabelle gleichauf.
After ten rounds, both teams were level in the standings.
Nach zehn Runden waren beide Teams mit zwölf Punkten punktgleich.
After ten rounds, both teams were level on points, with twelve points each.
