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

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

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

To give fans an equal opportunity to view the proceedings a bit closer, four circular screens near the top of the arena relayed what was happening onstage as an energetic, red-haired Elliott went toe-to-toe with her male and female troupe of dancers. —Gail Mitchell, Billboard, 13 July 2024

Kim Kardashian will go toe-to-toe with a pair of Hollywood greats. —Keisha Hatchett, TVLine, 8 July 2024

With less than two weeks to go before the Republican National Convention begins in downtown Milwaukee, those in charge of security and the lead group planning to protest the event went toe-to-toe in federal court Wednesday over demonstration plans. —Alison Dirr, Journal Sentinel, 3 July 2024

Biden looked his age and seemed unable to go toe-to-toe with former president Donald Trump. —Leigh Ann Caldwell, Washington Post, 28 June 2024

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1942, in the meaning defined above