mano a mano

[ Spanish mah-naw ah mah-naw; English mah-noh uh mah-noh ]

noun

, plural ma·nos a ma·nos [mah, -naws ah , mah, -naws, mah, -noh , uh, , mah, -nohz, mah, -nohz , uh, , mah, -nohz]

1. (italics) Spanish. a corrida in which two matadors alternate in fighting two or three bulls each.
2. a direct confrontation or conflict; head-on competition; duel.

adjective

1. being or resembling such a confrontation:

   a mano a mano struggle in the courtroom between two superb criminal lawyers.

adverb

1. in direct competition or rivalry:

   a brash newcomer in tennis taking on the reigning champion mano a mano.

Word History and Origins

Origin of mano a mano¹

< Spanish: on an equal footing, without advantage (to either of two contestants); literally, hand to hand

Example Sentences

That’s not nearly as dramatic as the mano a mano competition on the track, where some races are over in 10 seconds, the winner decided by an eyelash.

From Los Angeles Times

“It’s you mano a mano,” guard Trey Smith said.

From Seattle Times

CEO Zuckerberg - whose social media platforms duke it out daily for advertising dollars - have been trading bluster about going mano a mano.

From Reuters

“Herschel is a competitor. He’s very comfortable with the mano a mano,” said Scott Paradise, Walker’s campaign manager, noting the candidate’s athletic prowess as a football running back, kickboxer and Olympic bobsledder.

From Seattle Times

But in the early stages of a presidential campaign, DeSantis would not be facing Trump mano a mano but rather as one choice among many.

From Washington Post