2
general::
contest
verbs
enter a contest
(= take part in one )
• Anyone over 18 years old can enter the contest.
take part in a contest
• Twenty-five countries took part in the contest.
compete in a contest
• The band has competed in many contests over the years.
win/lose a contest
• He won a public-speaking contest at his school.
withdraw from a contest
(= stop taking part in a contest )
• Two candidates had withdrawn from the contest.
have/hold a contest
• My college holds an athletics contest once a year.
a contest takes place
• The contest took place in Berlin.
ADJECTIVES/NOUN + contest
a leadership contest
(= in which two politicians compete to become leader of their party )
• The party did not want the turmoil of a leadership contest.
a presidential contest
• the 1987 U.S presidential contest
an electoral/election contest
• What will be the outcome of the electoral contest?
a beauty contest
(= to find the most beautiful person )
• Miss Colombia won the beauty contest.
a talent contest
(= to find the best performer )
• She's singing a song in the school talent contest.
a popularity contest
(= to decide which person people like the most )
• The competition has turned into a popluarity contest.
close
(= one which someone wins by a very small amount )
• The race was a close contest between two evenly matched crews.
fair
(= one in which everyone has the same chance of winning )
• Divide the class into groups in a way that will make it a fair contest.
even/equal
British English (= one in which everyone has the same chance of winning )
• One of the men was much older so it was hardly an even contest.
uneven/unequal
British English (= one in which one of the people, groups etc has a better chance of winning )
• Given their military strength, the war was a pretty unequal contest.
transnet.ir
3
general::
verb in a competition ADV. bitterly, fiercely, hotly, keenly The election was bitterly contested. | successfully, unsuccessfully oppose ADV. fiercely, hotly, strongly, vigorously His views on evolution are strongly contested by other scientists. | successfully, unsuccessfully Defence lawyers successfully contested the case., noun ADJ. close, closely fought, equal, even | one-sided, unequal The contest was too one-sided to be exciting. | open This contest is wide open: any of half a dozen teams could win it. | fair The other bidders for the contract complained that it had not been a fair contest. | exciting, good, great, thrilling | bitter | head-to-head The contestants are eliminated one by one until the last two compete in a head-to-head contest. | global, international, local, national, regional | election/electoral, gubernatorial, leadership, political, presidential | beauty, song, sporting, talent VERB + CONTEST have, hold, run We have three major beauty contests a year. Sporting contests are held in the arena. | compete in, enter, take part in A third candidate has entered the contest for the Republican nomination. | win, lose CONTEST + VERB take place PREP. during a/the ~ During the election contest newspapers are not allowed to publish public opinion polls. | in a/the ~ Both sides are predicting victory in this close contest. | out of a/the ~ Jackson has injured his knee and is now out of the contest. | ~ against They won the doubles contest against the Williams sisters. | ~ between the contest between these two great boxers | ~ for the contest for the leadership of the party | ~ over In the animal kingdom intruders usually lose contests over territories. | ~ with The New Zealanders are looking forward to future contests with South Africa. PHRASES be no contest (= used when one side in a contest is much stronger than the other and is sure to win), the winner of a contest
Oxford Collocations Dictionary