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]

Example Sentences

“This is an eyeball-to-eyeball state,” he said.

From Seattle Times

“Humility had absolutely nothing to do with my piece. King’s head is tilted forward — not bowed — so that someone standing below will have a kind of eyeball-to-eyeball confrontation with him,” he told the Associated Press.

From Washington Post

So when I first arrived at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley on Wednesday, the images of the 40th president — in cowboy garb or eyeball-to-eyeball with Gorbachev or loving up Nancy or putting a golf ball in the Oval Office — left me cold.

From Los Angeles Times

For half a century, Moscow and Washington glared and growled at each other, eyeball-to-eyeball.

From Los Angeles Times

“This is not just an abstract question. But the fact is that India is in the middle of a war with China. India is locked in an eyeball-to-eyeball confrontation with China over a disputed frontier,” he said.

From Seattle Times

Related Words

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