mano a mano

adverb or adjective

ma·​no a ma·​no ˌmä-nō-ä-ˈmä-nō 

: in direct competition or conflict especially between two people

Synonyms

• eyeball-to-eyeball
• face-to-face
• head-on
• head-to-head
• one-on-one
• toe-to-toe

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

The video captures more than 10 years of friendship between the two reggaetón artists, including memorable pranks, viral moments, and their mano a mano panel at 2017 Billboard Latin Music Week. —Jessica Roiz, Billboard, 22 Mar. 2025

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

Word History

Etymology

Spanish, literally, hand to hand

First Known Use

1950, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for mano a mano

• americano
• castellano
• cebuano
• mexicano
• chicano
• hispano
• serrano
• solano
• soprano
• llano