toe-to-toe

adjective or adverb

ˈtō-ˌtə-ˈtō 

: slugging it out at or as if at close range

a toe-to-toe confrontation over the new policy

Synonyms of toe-to-toe

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

Examples of toe-to-toe in a Sentence

mom-and-pop grocery stores are usually wildly outmatched when they go toe-to-toe with large chain stores

Recent Examples on the Web

Then, each celebrity performed with a former Mirrorball champion in the relay dance round, which pitted two couples, toe-to-toe. —Lars Brandle, Billboard, 12 Nov. 2025

Wilson played Alice Morgan, a psychopathic murdering research doctor who went toe-to-toe with Luther in the first season only to evolve into a co-dependent relationship. —Borys Kit, HollywoodReporter, 11 Nov. 2025

Greenblatt’s June goes toe-to-toe with Jack (Dave Franco) over their puzzle-solving abilities. —Glenn Garner, Deadline, 11 Nov. 2025

There’s divorce talk, heated dinner discussions, a hospital visit and a few moments where the women go toe-to-toe. —Stacy Lambe, PEOPLE, 4 Nov. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1942, in the meaning defined above