mano a mano

adverb or adjective

ma·​no a ma·​no ˌmä-nō-ä-ˈmä-nō How to pronounce mano a mano (audio)
: in direct competition or conflict especially between two people

Examples of mano a mano in a Sentence

the two brothers decided to go mano a mano in one final match to determine who was the better tennis player
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Hannibal recasts Foster with Julianne Moore and then mostly marginalizes her in favor of an absolutely disgusting mano a mano between Hannibal Lecter and a previous victim (Gary Oldman) hellbent on revenge. Scott Tobias, Vulture, 20 Nov. 2024 From the Ohio State tape, this switch release leaves Trader mano a mano with Marvin Harrison Jr., but the former cornerback stays composed in his pedal and drives on the throw for the pass breakup. Dane Brugler, The Athletic, 19 Aug. 2024 The mano a mano dynamic between the pair yields Milioti and Farrell’s best work, but the interplay viewers will crave peaks far too early. Daniel Fienberg, The Hollywood Reporter, 12 Sep. 2024 Ritchie always throws a party, being of a generation impervious to war and social responsibility, yet his film savvy evokes mano a mano and explosive classics, from The Dirty Dozen and The Guns of Navarone to the Reagan-Bush era Indiana Jones films. Armond White, National Review, 19 Apr. 2024 See all Example Sentences for mano a mano 

Word History

Etymology

Spanish, literally, hand to hand

First Known Use

1950, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of mano a mano was in 1950

Dictionary Entries Near mano a mano

Cite this Entry

“Mano a mano.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mano%20a%20mano. Accessed 30 Dec. 2024.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!