What it means
Means you beat someone by the tiniest sliver, like a photo finish or the last question on a quiz. You’ll often hear pipped at the post when someone nicks it right at the end. Not a proper thrashing, just a cruel little edge that leaves the loser fuming and the winner buzzing.
Usage examples
"Thought I had it, then Jamie pipped me on the line by a whisker. I’m proper gutted and he’s already bragging like a gold medalist."
"She pipped him on the line and took the gold by a hundredth of a second."
"We were pipped at the post, losing the contract by one vote."
"I was smug for a full ten minutes, then Zara piped me by one mark and ruined my little victory parade."
"United only got pipped at the post, mate. One scruffy goal at the death and the whole pub went sour."
Where it comes from
This one’s properly rooted in horse racing. In British English, to be pipped at the post meant getting beaten right at the finishing line by the tiniest margin, basically by a nose. From there, pip spread into everyday chat for any last-gasp, razor-close win where someone just nicks it at the end.
Editors of this term
Mischievous Mist Shepherd Official watcher of this expression
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