At a white heat vs In a dead heat

at a white heat—in a state of intense or extreme emotion:

• I saw him once while at a white heat of vexation in the library of the White House.

in a dead heat—(of a race, etc.) finishing at practically the same time:

• The horses came to the finish in a dead heat, and, without a photograph, the results were too close to call.

See also: at a heat / in heat.