Let’s learn about “막상막하” from Naver Portal

1. When you saw a game was a neck and neck one, you can say "그 경기는 막상막하였어요"(It was a neck and neck game) in Korean.

2. Explanation about "막상막하[莫上莫下]"

• 막상막하 means "nothing better and nothing worse". a similar word is "난형난제(難兄難弟)".

ㆍ 막상막하로 : equally (well) / as ‥ as / [경기(game)] neck to[and] neck / nip and tuck

ㆍ 막상막하의 열전 : a nip and tuck race / an evenly-matched contest

ㆍ 막상막하하다 : [=비등비등하다 or 팽팽하다] equal ; well-matched; evenly-matched; be on a par ; stand even

ㆍ 두 형제는 똑똑하기가 막상막하다 : The two brothers are equally clever

ㆍ 투구(投球)에서 이군과 김군은 막상막하한 실력을 갖고 있다 : In pitching Lee is as good as Kim. / Lee is as good a pitcher as Kim

ㆍ 쌍방이 막상막하한 시합을 벌였다 The two sides played an evenly-balanced game

ㆍ 두 선수의 실력이 막상막하하다 [팽팽하다 or 비등비등하다] The two are evenly matched. / They are even in ability[skill / strength]

• 팽팽하다 : 

(1) tight; taut; strained; tense; stretched to the full

ㆍ 팽팽해지다 : tighten / become tight[taut]

ㆍ 팽팽히 : tightly; tautly; tensely

ㆍ 밧줄을 팽팽히 당기다 : tighten[strain] a rope / stretch a rope tight

ㆍ 너무 팽팽히 잡아당기면 끊어진다 : If you strain it too hard, it will break

(2) rigid; strict; stern; narrow-minded; illiberal; strait-laced; hide-bound

ㆍ 팽팽한 사람 : a strict[narrow-minded] person

ㆍ 팽팽히 : rigidly; strictly; sternly; narrow-mindedly

(3) close; equal; even; equally-matched [-balanced]; well-matched

ㆍ 팽팽한 경기 : a close game / a well-matched game

ㆍ 실력이 팽팽하다 :  be well matched[balanced] in strength[power]

ㆍ 팽팽히 : closely; equally; evenly

ㆍ 쌍방은 주장을 굽히지 않고 팽팽히 맞섰다 : Both struck fast to their respective opinions. 

• 비등비등하다 : [= ...와/과 똑같다 or 동등하다] be on a par with