eyeball-to-eyeball

[ ahy-bawl-tuh-ahy-bawl, -too- ]

adjective

1. close or direct and often hostile; face-to-face:

   an eyeball-to-eyeball confrontation.

Word History and Origins

Origin of eyeball-to-eyeball¹

First recorded in 1960–65

Idioms and Phrases

Face to face; especially, about to begin a conflict. For example, We are eyeball to eyeball with the enemy , or In the playoffs we go eyeball to eyeball with the Yankees , or In the first debate our candidate's going eyeball to eyeball with his opponent . This term was originally used only in a military context but later entered civilian language, particularly in political or sports confrontations. [ Colloquial ; c. 1950]

Example Sentences

“This is an eyeball-to-eyeball state,” he said.

From Seattle Times

“Humility had absolutely nothing to do with my piece. King’s head is tilted forward — not bowed — so that someone standing below will have a kind of eyeball-to-eyeball confrontation with him,” he told the Associated Press.

From Washington Post

So when I first arrived at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley on Wednesday, the images of the 40th president — in cowboy garb or eyeball-to-eyeball with Gorbachev or loving up Nancy or putting a golf ball in the Oval Office — left me cold.

From Los Angeles Times

For half a century, Moscow and Washington glared and growled at each other, eyeball-to-eyeball.

From Los Angeles Times

“This is not just an abstract question. But the fact is that India is in the middle of a war with China. India is locked in an eyeball-to-eyeball confrontation with China over a disputed frontier,” he said.

From Seattle Times

Related Words

• argument
• conference
• consultation
• conversation
• deliberation
• dialogue
• interview
• meeting
• negotiation
• seminar
• symposium
• visit