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

• 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

There is also the assertion that the most motivational way to attain AGI and ASI is by having AI talent that purposely goes toe-to-toe with each other. —Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 5 July 2025

In Eddington, Gomez Hidaka plays Eric Garcia, the son to Pedro Pascal’s mayor Ted Garcia who goes toe-to-toe with the politics of Joaquin Phoenix’s crusty sheriff, Joe Cross. —Anthony D'alessandro, Deadline, 3 July 2025

Auckland are accustomed to being the imposing team and somewhat naively set up in their usual 4-3-3 formation against Bayern Munich, ready to go toe-to-toe with the German champions. —Elias Burke, New York Times, 20 June 2025

Even so, some Democrats argue the party also needs to stand toe-to-toe with Trump. —James Oliphant, USA Today, 19 June 2025

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1942, in the meaning defined above