Nip and tuck

Origin of: Nip and tuck

Nip and tuck

This is originally an American expression meaning, neck and neck and describes a very close contest. Its origin remains obscure but it dates from the early 19th century, perhaps from horseracing where a rider would either ‘nip’ in front or ‘tuck’ in behind another. Since the 1970s, it has acquired an alternative meaning as a plastic surgery procedure reinforced by the American TV series Nip and Tuck (2003-2010) featuring the goings-on at a plastic surgery practice.