Breast the Tape

Posted on the 26 April 2020 by Idioms

Meaning | Synonyms

  • win a race
  • meet something at chest level
  • confront bodily

Example Sentences

  1. It was a close race, but the Spanish runner breasted the tape.
  2. He breasted the tape and the crowd went wild.
  3. She did a lap of honour after breasting the tape.
  4. It was the hardest race I ever ran, but I breasted that tape and collapsed on the grass.
  5. There is a lot of money at stake so, he has to breast the tape today and claim the prize.
  6. She proved to everyone that she was a worthy opponent when she breasted the tape like a champion.

Origin

The origin of this British idiom is to touch the finish line first in any form of "foot race."

A tape was held at chest level by a judge on either side of the track at the finish line. The body part most likely to touch the tape is the chest (breast) area. The first person to connect with the tape was said to "breast the tape."