ENGLISH
REFERENCE

caucus race

idiom
Meaning

The competitive process in which a political party selects their candidate, especially presidential; a primary election via caucus.


Origin

disputed origin

From caucus (“special party meeting for vote allocation”) + race (“contest between people”).

Examples
SIMPLE

The candidates are busy preparing for the caucus race.

CONTEXTUAL

Many voters pay close attention to the early states because they often decide the winner of the caucus race.

COMPLEX

Political analysts spent weeks debating which candidate possessed the necessary momentum to emerge victorious from the grueling and unpredictable caucus race.

Anchors to
Related idioms8entries
  1. 01

    no horse in this race

    No vested interest in the outcome of a contest or debate.

  2. 02

    one-horse race

    An election campaign or other competitive situation in which only one competitor is entered or in which only one competitor has a realistic chance of winning.

  3. 03

    play the race card

    To assert that race or racism is involved in a situation, especially in order to exploit racist or antiracist attitudes.

  4. 04

    race against time

    A situation in which something must be done hurriedly, before a deadline.

  5. 05

    race of truth

    A time trial.

  6. 06

    race out of the traps

    To start something very quickly.

  7. 07

    race queen

    A glamorous model accompanying the pit crew in Japanese motor racing.

  8. 08

    race riot

    A riot arising from interracial conflict.

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