Etymology

, literally hand to hand; on equal footing, neither of two participants having any distinct advantage.

Noun

mano a mano or mano-a-mano

1. A head-on conflict or direct competition; a duel.

   The other candidates seemed to disappear as the public debate became a heated mano-a-mano between the two leading candidates.

Adjective

mano a mano or mano-a-mano

1. In close confrontation.

   We sat tensely in the courtroom while the mano-a-mano struggle ensued between the two skilled lawyers.

Adverb

mano a mano or mano-a-mano

1. Characterized by head-to-head competition or conflict.

   The newcomer brashly engaged the veteran player mano-a-mano.

Usage notes

This phrase is commonly misunderstood by English speakers who think that the term means “man to man”, though in use this meaning would still be similar.

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Phrase

mano a mano

1. hand to hand (competition), or sometimes hand in hand (cooperation); on equal terms, close together.

Noun

1. A corrida in which two rival matadors alternate in fighting several bulls each.