by a neck 差一点输／胜；以微弱优势（领先）

【例句】
In the basketball game China beat the Japanese by a neck.
在那场篮球赛中中国队险胜日本队。

The man I voted for won the election by a neck-he had only 3 votes more than his opponent.
我投票支持的人以微小之差获胜――他只比对手多3票。