toss up: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B2Informal
Quick answer
What does “toss up” mean?
A situation where the outcome is completely uncertain or a choice between two equally good or bad possibilities.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A situation where the outcome is completely uncertain or a choice between two equally good or bad possibilities.
1) The literal act of throwing a coin into the air to decide something based on which side lands face up. 2) (verb) To throw something lightly or casually. 3) (verb, especially in sports commentary) To deliver a ball with a high, easy trajectory.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The phrase is used similarly in both varieties, though the verb 'toss' (for throwing) is slightly more common in American English. British English may use 'It's a toss-up' slightly more frequently for everyday indecision.
Connotations
Neutral to informal in both. In sports contexts (like tennis or cricket), 'toss up' as a verb describes a specific high, looping delivery.
Frequency
High frequency in spoken, informal contexts in both varieties.
Grammar
How to Use “toss up” in a Sentence
It's a toss-up between X and Yto toss up [a coin/a ball]X is a toss-upVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “toss up” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- We couldn't decide, so we tossed up a coin.
- The cricketer tossed up a gentle delivery.
American English
- Let's just toss up to see who goes first.
- The quarterback tossed up a Hail Mary pass.
adjective
British English
- It was a toss-up decision until the final moment.
American English
- The toss-up state will decide the election.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
"The final two candidates were so strong, hiring one is a real toss-up."
Academic
Rare in formal academic writing, but may appear in informal discussion of probabilistic outcomes.
Everyday
"Whether we go to the beach or the park is a toss-up—it depends on the weather."
Technical
Used in statistics or probability to colloquially describe an event with two equally likely outcomes.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “toss up”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “toss up”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “toss up”
- Using 'toss-up' in formal writing.
- Saying 'toss-up of' instead of 'toss-up between'.
- Confusing the noun 'a toss-up' with the verb phrase 'to toss up'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, 'to toss up' means to throw something, especially a coin, lightly into the air. The more common usage, however, is the noun 'a toss-up'.
It is primarily an informal, colloquial expression. Avoid it in very formal or technical writing where 'uncertain', 'equally probable', or 'indeterminate' would be better.
A 'draw' or 'tie' is a finalized result where scores are equal. A 'toss-up' describes the state of uncertainty before the result is known, implying either outcome is equally likely.
The standard preposition is 'between' (e.g., 'a toss-up between pizza and pasta'). 'Of' is generally incorrect in this phrase.
A situation where the outcome is completely uncertain or a choice between two equally good or bad possibilities.
Toss up: in British English it is pronounced /ˈtɒs ʌp/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈtɔːs ʌp/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Too close to call, it's a toss-up.”
- “Let's toss up for it.”
- “I couldn't decide, so I tossed a coin.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine two people TOSSing a coin UP into the air. While it's in the air, the result is unknown—a perfect 'toss-up.'
Conceptual Metaphor
UNCERTAINTY IS A COIN TOSS / BALANCE IS EQUAL WEIGHT
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'toss-up' LEAST appropriate?