man-to-man

noun

1

: a frank discussion especially between two men : a man-to-man talk

had a man-to-man with a friend about his problems

She [Vermont DOC consultant Kathleen Patten] believes conversations between victims and offenders can offset the sometimes-harmful separation the two sides experience during legal proceedings. "The court experience is really tough for people," she says. "A man-to-man isn't allowed. …"

—Cathy Resmer

2

: a system of defense (as in football or basketball) in which each defensive player guards a specified opponent : man-to-man defense

[Lathan] Ransom is an aggressive run defender from the safety position, and he also does a good job as a free-roaming safety in pass coverage. He's great in zone coverage on defense, but he can also play some man-to-man out on the perimeter.

—Nathanael Rutherford

Examples of man-to-man in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

And when Musketeers coach Sean Miller traded out a man-to-man defense for a zone, the Longhorns began to pound the ball to Bishop in the paint. —Dave Skretta, Chron, 24 Mar. 2023

Playing predominantly in-your-grill, man-to-man D, the Toreros limited UCI to 29.9 percent shooting, 20 of 67. —Don Norcross, San Diego Union-Tribune, 20 Mar. 2023

Alabama played a tight man-to-man, converging on the rim whenever a black jersey would drive toward it. —Nick Alvarez | [email protected], al, 11 Mar. 2023

Besides its physical man-to-man defense, Iowa State pounded the boards, outrebounding Baylor 44-17. —Chuck Carlton, Dallas News, 9 Mar. 2023

Word History

First Known Use

1942, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Rhymes for man-to-man

• businessman
• canavan
• caravan
• constantan
• dragoman
• fisherman
• handyman
• harmattan
• journeyman
• marianne
• middleman
• minivan