contort, head-to-head,neck and neck, neck and tuck,

Japan's Capsule Hotels Go High Tech and High Style
New York Times
By TIM HORNYAK EVENING was falling in the old Japanese capital of Kyoto, and I was tucking myself into a container slightly larger than a refrigerator. I pulled down the shade and, after a bit of contorting, lay down, the wall a few inches from my feet ...



It is especially puzzling given that Obama faces tough midterms and a less-than-certain re-election — and given that we all now know someone on the unemployment line. (A new poll shows Obama and Sarah Palin neck and neck among independents, but then it is a Fox survey.)



Beijing, Washington watch closely as neck and neck Taiwan presidential race ...
Washington Post
TAIPEI, Taiwan — Taiwan's two leading presidential candidates have much in common: both are products of prestigious foreign universities, both come from well-established families, and neither is particularly charismatic. ...



Labour's Gordon Brown, Conservative leader David Cameron and Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg have agreed to go head-to-head in a series of three debates.

head-to-head

(hĕd'tə-hĕd')
adv. & adj.

1. In direct confrontation or conflict at close quarters: The two brothers went at it head-to-head. It was a head-to-head contest all the way.
2. Arranged in a line with the heads adjacent to each other: The bunk beds were set up head-to-head.
3. Running close together in the same direction; neck and neck: The horses ran mostly head-to-head.

neck and neck

So close that the advantage or lead shifts from one to the other or is virtually indistinguishable, as in The two are neck and neck in developing a new operating system for the computer. The term comes from horse racing, where the necks of two horses in competition appear to be side by side. [Early 1800s] For a synonym, see nip and tuck.


contort
(kən-tôrt')

v., -tort·ed, -tort·ing, -torts. v.tr.
To twist, wrench, or bend severely out of shape: pain that contorted their faces.

v.intr.
To become twisted into a strained shape or expression. See synonyms at distort.

[Latin contorquēre, contort-, to twist : com-, intensive pref.; see com- + torquēre, to twist.]

contortion con·tor'tion n.
contortive con·tor'tive adj.

tuck
(tŭk)

v., tucked, tuck·ing, tucks. v.tr.

1. To make one or more folds in: tucked the pleats before sewing the hem.
2. To gather up and fold, thrust, or turn in so as to secure or confine: She tucked her scarf into her blouse.
3. 1. To put in a snug spot.
   2. To put in an out-of-the-way, snug place: a cabin that was tucked among the pines.
   3. To store in a safe spot; save: tuck away a bit of lace; tuck away millions.
4. 1. To draw in; contract: He tucked his chin into his chest.
   2. Sports. To bring (a body part) into a tuck position.

v.intr.
To make tucks.

n.

1. The act of tucking.
2. A flattened pleat or fold, especially a very narrow one stitched in place.
3. Nautical. The part of a ship's hull under the stern where the ends of the bottom planks come together.
4. Sports.
   1. A bodily position used in some sports, such as diving, in which the knees are bent and the thighs are drawn close to the chest, with the hands often clasped around the shins.
   2. A position in skiing in which the skier squats while holding the poles parallel to the ground and under the arms.
5. Chiefly British. Food, especially sweets and pastry.

phrasal verbs:
tuck away Informal. or into

1. To consume (food) heartily.

tuck in

1. To make (a child, for example) secure in bed for sleep, especially by tucking bedclothes into the bed.

[Middle English tukken, possibly from Middle Low German or Middle Dutch tocken, tucken.]

[動](他)［III[名]（[副]）］

1 〈衣服・毛布などの〉すそ［へり, 端］を（…に）押し［巻き, はさみ］込む((up, in/in, into, under ...))

tuck one's shirt in ［＝tuck in one's shirt］
ワイシャツのすそをたくし込む

have one's trousers tucked into one's boots
ズボンのすそを長ぐつの中へ押し込んでいる

She tucked the edge of the blanket under the mattress.
毛布の端をマットレスの下にたくし込んだ.

2 …を（狭い所・安全な所などに）しまい［ねじ, 押し］込む, 隠す((up, away/behind, in, into, under ...))；((通例受身))〈建物を〉人目につかない場所に建てる((away))

The restaurant is tucked away in a small building.
そのレストランは小さなビルの中に隠れている.

3 〈人を〉（寝具などに）ぴったりと包み込む, 心地よいぐあいにくるむ((in, up/in, into ...))；〈毛布などを〉（人の回りに）ぴったりと巻く((up/around ...))

tuck a child in
子供を夜具にくるむ

tuck ... into bed
…をベッドに包み込むように寝かせる.

4 〈衣服・そで・すそなどを〉まくり［たくし］上げる, からげる((in, up))；…を折り込む［重ねる, 返す］；〈体の一部を〉抱え込む, 〈ひじなどを〉たたむ((in))；〈衣服に〉タック［縫いひだ］を取る

tuck up one's skirts ［one's sleeves］
スカート［そで］をたくし上げる.

5 ((略式))…をもりもり食べる, がぶがぶ飲む, たらふく食べる((in, away))（▼awayは大量に食べる場合に用いる）

tuck away a big meal
大量のごちそうを平らげる.

6 〈魚を〉大地引網から小地引網ですくい出す.

━━(自)

1 縮む, すぼまる, しわになる, ひだになる；タック［縫いひだ］を取る.

2 ((略式))（…を）たらふく［がつがつ］食べ（始め）る, がぶがぶ飲む((away, ((英))in/into ...)).

3 〈衣服が〉ぴったり合う, ぐあいよく合う.

be tucked up

((略式))（ベッドに）横になって［座って］いる；疲れ果てている.

━━[名]

1 タック, 縫いひだ, つまみ

put a tuck in a dress
ドレスにタックを入れる.

2 [U]((英・古風))（パイ・ジャム・キャンデーなどの）菓子（▼主に学童が使う）.

3 （しわを伸ばしたりぜい肉を取る）美容整形手術.

4 押し［折り］込まれた物.

5 （ダイビングの）かかえ型（の飛び込み）；（体操競技の）かかえ型の転回；（スキーの）前傾姿勢.

6 《海事》タック, 地引き網.

neck and tuck

Very close so that the advantage or lead of competitors keeps shifting, as in It was nip and tuck whether they would deal with the bill before Congress adjourned. The precise allusion in this term has been lost. [Early 1800s] Also see neck and neck.

neck and neck

adjective

Nearly equivalent or even: close, nip and tuck, tight. Seenear/far/distance.