Phrase guide

nip and tuck

adj · adv · noun · 6 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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1

adj

Meaning 1

So evenly matched that the advantage shifts from one to the other, and the outcome is uncertain.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: idiomatic

Examples

  • 1951, Howdy Doody's Christmas Well, it was nip and tuck, but everything worked out fine. Santa Claus got there in time to bring toys to all the boys and girls.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

adv

Meaning 2

With the advantage of changing hands, or shifting back and forth among the available alternatives.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

noun

Meaning 3

Minor cosmetic surgery that tightens loose skin.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Topics: medicine, sciences, surgery

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: rhytidectomy, facelift

Antonyms: none provided

4

adjective satellite

Meaning 4

inconclusive as to outcome; close or just even in a race or comparison or competition

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • as they approached the finish line they were neck and neck
  • the election was a nip and tuck affair

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: neck and neck, head-to-head

Antonyms: none provided

5

adverb

Meaning 5

even or close in a race or competition or comparison

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • the horses ran neck and neck
  • he won nip and tuck

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: neck and neck, head-to-head

Antonyms: none provided

6

noun

Meaning 6

plastic surgery to remove wrinkles and other signs of aging from your face; an incision is made near the hair line and skin is pulled back and excess tissue is excised

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • some actresses have more than one face lift

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: face lift, facelift, lift, face lifting, cosmetic surgery, rhytidectomy, rhytidoplasty

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: plastic surgery, reconstructive surgery, anaplasty

Narrower terms: nose job, rhinoplasty

History

Etymology

Of unknown origin. First use appears c. 1845, in the publication American Whig Review.

Across languages

Translations

17 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Finnish: tasaväkisesti — evenly matched with vacillating advantage
  • Finnish: nipin napin — evenly matched with vacillating advantage
  • French: coude à coude — evenly matched with vacillating advantage
  • Italian: testa a testa — evenly matched with vacillating advantage
  • Korean: 막상막하 (maksangmakha) — evenly matched with vacillating advantage
  • Korean: 비금비금 (bigeumbigeum) — evenly matched with vacillating advantage
  • Korean: 삐까삐까 (ppikkappikka) — evenly matched with vacillating advantage
  • Polish: łeb w łeb — evenly matched with vacillating advantage
  • Russian: вро́вень (vróvenʹ) — evenly matched with vacillating advantage
  • Russian: плечо́м к плечу́ (plečóm k plečú) — evenly matched with vacillating advantage
  • Russian: ноздря́ в ноздрю́ (nozdrjá v nozdrjú) — evenly matched with vacillating advantage
  • Italian: ritidectomia — skin-tightening cosmetic surgery
  • Italian: ritidoplastica — skin-tightening cosmetic surgery
  • Italian: lifting — skin-tightening cosmetic surgery
  • Polish: lifting — skin-tightening cosmetic surgery
  • Russian: ли́фтинг (lífting) — skin-tightening cosmetic surgery
  • Russian: подтя́жка ко́жи (podtjážka kóži) — skin-tightening cosmetic surgery