一二を争う

一二(いちに) (ichini, “first and second”) + を (o, object particle) + 争(あらそ)う (arasou, “to compete, vie”)

一(いち)二(に)を争(あらそ)う • (ichini o arasou) godan (stem 一(いち)二(に)を争(あらそ)い (ichini o arasoi), past 一(いち)二(に)を争(あらそ)った (ichini o arasotta))

1. to compete for first place; to rival the top spot; to be top-class
   • 2024 April 1, 吉(よし)田(だ)恵(え)里(り)香(か) (Yoshida Erika), 9:40 from the start, in 虎(とら)に翼(つばさ) (Tora ni Tsubasa) [The Tiger and Her Wings], episode 1, NHK:

     （直言(なおこと)）寅子(ともこ)は、女学校(じょがっこう)で一二(いちに)を争(あらそ)う成績(せいせき)でして。 / （寅子(ともこ)）２番(にばん)。 / （直言(なおこと)）えっ。 / （寅子(ともこ)）１番(いちばん)の人(ひと)は絶対(ぜったい)一二(いちに)を争(あらそ)うなんて言(い)い方(かた)はしません。大抵(たいてい) ２番(にばん)が――いや、３〜４番(さんよんばん)の人(ひと)が見(み)えを張(は)る時(とき)に使(つか)います。私(わたし)は２番(にばん)なので、そこは誤解(ごかい)なきように。

     (Naokoto) Tomoko wa, jogakkō de ichini o arasou seiseki deshite. / (Tomoko) Niban. / (Naokoto) E'. / (Tomoko) Ichiban no hito wa zettai ichini o arasou nante iikata wa shimasen. Taitei niban ga――iya, san'yonban no hito ga mie o haru toki ni tsukaimasu. Watashi wa niban na no de, soko wa gokai naki yō ni.

     Naokoto: Tomoko's grades rival the top spot at the girls' school. / Tomoko: I'm second. / Naokoto: Eh? / Tomoko: The person in first would never use a phrase like "rival the top spot". It's mostly those in second— no, third and fourth who say that when they want to appear better than they actually are. I'm second, so let's not have any confusion.