任何用來分勝負的東西
這是最一般的用法，核心畫面直接就是它：不管那樣東西是什麼，它的工作就是把平手打開。
noun · B2
Anything that is used to pick a winner, or to settle a choice, when two sides are exactly level.
決勝的關鍵
核心畫面
Two scores are tied together in a knot, and neither side can pull ahead. The contest cannot simply stop there, so one more thing is brought in and the knot is cut. A tiebreaker can be thought of as whatever does the cutting.
可以想成兩邊的分數綁成一個死結，誰也拉不開誰。比賽不能就這樣停在那裡。所以要有一樣東西進來，把這個結一刀切斷。tie…更多收起
可以想成兩邊的分數綁成一個死結，誰也拉不開誰。比賽不能就這樣停在那裡。所以要有一樣東西進來，把這個結一刀切斷。tie 是那個結，breaker 是切開它的東西。tiebreaker 的每一種用法，講的都是「切開這個結的那一下」。From the word’s history
A compound of tie (a level score) and breaker (the thing that breaks it).
由 tie（平手）加 breaker（打破它的東西）組成，字面就是「把平手打破的那個東西」。
Wiktionary entry for tiebreaker (kaikki extract supplied in evidence packet): "From tie + breaker."
Two branches
比賽規則裡固定的那一關
同一個畫面被寫進規則：主辦單位事先就準備好一樣東西，平手時直接拿出來用。
noun · B2
An extra question in a quiz or game, asked when two players or teams have the same number of points, so that one of them can be chosen as the winner.
決勝題