mano a mano

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See also: mano-a-mano

English

Alternative forms

Etymology

Borrowed from Spanish mano a mano (literally hand-to-hand); on equal footing, neither of two participants having any distinct advantage.

Noun

mano a mano

  1. A head-on conflict or direct competition.
    Synonym: duel
    The public debate became a heated mano a mano between the two leading candidates.
    • 1985 June 9, William Kennedy, “The Last Ole”, in New York Times:
      Hemingway's subject for the epilogue was the mano a mano (or hand-to-hand, a duel) between Spain's two leading matadors, Luis Miguel Dominguin and his brother-in-law, Antonio Ordonez.

Translations

Adjective

mano a mano (not comparable)

  1. in close confrontation
    We sat tensely in the courtroom while the mano-a-mano struggle ensued between the two skilled lawyers.
    • 2016 May 23, Ignatiy Vishnevetsky, “Apocalypse pits the strengths of the X-Men series against the weaknesses”, in The Onion AV Club:
      When he finally goes mano a mano with Xavier at the climax, it’s in a psychic battle staged inside the latter’s dreamspace, which happens to look exactly like his mansion

Adverb

mano a mano (not comparable)

  1. Characterized by head-to-head competition or conflict.
    The newcomer brashly engaged the veteran player mano a mano.

Italian

Adverb

mano a mano

  1. Alternative form of a mano a mano preferred form.

Further reading

Portuguese

Etymology

Borrowed from Spanish mano a mano.

Pronunciation

 
  • (Brazil) IPA(key): /ˈmɐ̃.nu a ˈmɐ̃.nu/
    • (Southern Brazil) IPA(key): /ˈmɐ.no a ˈmɐ.no/
 

Noun

mano a mano m (uncountable)

  1. mano a mano (a head-on conflict or direct competition)

Adverb

mano a mano (not comparable)

  1. mano a mano, on equal terms (by means of a head-to-head competition)
    • Fernando Tordo (lyrics and music) (1973) “Tourada”, (in Portuguese):Toureamos ombro a ombro as ferasWe control on equal terms the beasts

Spanish

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /ˌmano a ˈmano/
  • Syllabification: ma‧no a ma‧no

Adjective

mano a mano (invariable)

  1. hand to hand (competition), or sometimes hand in hand (cooperation); on equal terms, close together

Noun

mano a mano m (plural mano a mano)

  1. (bullfighting) a corrida in which two rival matadors alternate in fighting several bulls each

Descendants

  • English: mano a mano
  • Portuguese: mano a mano

Further reading