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Synonyms

eyeball-to-eyeball

American  
[ahy-bawl-tuh-ahy-bawl, -too-] / ˈaɪˌbɔl təˈaɪˌbɔl, -tu- /

adjective

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

    an eyeball-to-eyeball confrontation.
eyeball to eyeball Idioms  

  1. 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]

Etymology

Origin of eyeball-to-eyeball

First recorded in 1960–65

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

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

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 28, 2022

But the Macron meeting marked a rare opportunity for a Western leader to spend an extended period of time in Putin's company and to gauge, eyeball-to-eyeball, his state of mind.

From Reuters • Feb. 10, 2022

It even sounds like something that might have come from an eyeball-to-eyeball songwriting session with Lennon.

From Washington Times • Sep. 7, 2018

However flexible, informal and secret WhatsApp may be, Alterman argues that no messaging system can ever be a substitute for eyeball-to-eyeball diplomacy.

From The Guardian • Nov. 4, 2016

John Kennedy had spoken often of some sort of looming showdown with the Soviet Union, some eyeball-to-eyeball moment that would shove the future one way or the other.

From "Fallout: Spies, Superbombs, and the Ultimate Cold War Showdown" by Steve Sheinkin

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.