TOO CLOSE TO CALL Definition & Meaning

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too close to call

Resulting in too narrow a margin to make a decision, as in That ball didn't miss by much but it was too close to call, or The election was too close to call, so they decided to have a runoff. This expression comes from sports, where call has signified “a judgment” since the mid-1600s. In the 1960s it began to be applied to pre-election polls and then to the outcome of elections.

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The polls have been too close to call.

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Some seats are still too close to call.

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Won by Coalition MP Terry Young on a margin of 3% last election, it is now too close to call.

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The race to lead the Northern California city remained too close to call Tuesday night.

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Wicked, The Brutalist, Conclave and Anora are also among the top contenders, with the race for best picture too close to call.

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