toss-up
|toss/up|
🇺🇸
/ˈtɔsˌʌp/
🇬🇧
/ˈtɒsˌʌp/
decided by chance / uncertain outcome
Etymology
'toss-up' originates from English, specifically a compound of the verb 'toss' and the adverb 'up'.
'Toss' comes from Middle English 'tossen' meaning 'to throw'; 'up' comes from Old English 'up'. The verbal phrase 'to toss up' (meaning to throw upward) existed earlier, and the compound noun 'toss-up' developed later (19th century) to refer to decisions made by tossing or to evenly matched contests.
Initially it meant 'to throw upward'; over time 'toss up' came to mean deciding by tossing (e.g., a coin), and later broadened to mean any close or uncertain outcome.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
an outcome or contest that is uncertain or too close to call; a 50-50 chance.
The election is a toss-up.
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Noun 2
a decision made by tossing a coin or similar random method.
They settled who would bat first with a toss-up.
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Verb 1
to throw something lightly into the air.
She will toss up the ball to start the play.
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Verb 2
to present or offer (something) for consideration.
The manager tossed up several proposals at the meeting.
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Last updated: 2025/12/09 22:05