eyeball-to-eyeball

[ ahy-bawl-tuh-ahy-bawl, -too- ]

adjective

1. close or direct and often hostile; face-to-face:

   an eyeball-to-eyeball confrontation.

Word History and Origins

Origin of eyeball-to-eyeball¹

First recorded in 1960–65

Idioms and Phrases

Face to face; especially, about to begin a conflict. For example, We are eyeball to eyeball with the enemy , or In the playoffs we go eyeball to eyeball with the Yankees , or In the first debate our candidate's going eyeball to eyeball with his opponent . This term was originally used only in a military context but later entered civilian language, particularly in political or sports confrontations. [ Colloquial ; c. 1950]

Related Words

• argument
• conference
• consultation
• conversation
• deliberation
• dialogue
• interview
• meeting
• negotiation
• seminar
• symposium
• visit