a two-horse race

a two-horse race

A competition in which only two participants seem likely to win. I know there's eight girls running, but it's really a two-horse race between Jenny and Stella—the others just don't stand a chance. A number of candidates always end up on the ballot in each presidential election, it's only ever a two-horse race, really.
See also: race
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.
See also:
  • battle of the giants
  • (one, two, three) strikes against (someone or something)
  • go two-forty
  • between two fires
  • come together
  • at each other's throats
  • chalk and cheese
  • be at each other's throats
  • cling together
  • in two