Definition of "neck and neck" [neck and neck]

• Very close in progress, as in a race or contest. (adjective)

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• "There were many grim statistics one could enumerate about how damaged the country was after decades of war, but suffice to say that even several years after the United States had toppled the Taliban, the countries of Afghanistan and Burkino Faso, in central Africa, were running neck and neck on their abysmal quality-of-life indicators."
• "Zero deaths were reported from Chinese or ayurvedic herbal medicines; seven from intentionally abused stimulants like ephedra, ma huang, and yohimbe; two from iron poisoning; three from potassium, two from sodium, one from vitamin C, and one from vitamin B6—running neck and neck with deaths reported from plain soap, table salt, and baking soda."
• "On discovering the force of the Indians, they retreated to the grove, and almost neck and neck with the Indians, sprang over their horses and occupied the Block House."