man-to-man
Americanadjective
adjective
Etymology
Origin of man-to-man
First recorded in 1570–80
Explanation
Something man-to-man is straightforward and personal. If your dad has something very important to tell you, he might sit you down for a man-to-man conversation. You could also describe a man-to-man talk as being "one-on-one" or even "woman-to-woman," since man-to-man obviously excludes anyone who's not male. The term has an implication of extreme honesty: "It might hurt your feelings, but I think it's time for a man-to-man chat about your grades." You can also use man-to-man to mean "player to player," a common sports defense strategy in which every player guards one specific opponent.
Vocabulary lists containing man-to-man
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.
It is not uncommon to see higher defensive lines and man-to-man pressure, with teams preferring not to give high-level opposition the majority of the ball close to their goal for 90 minutes.
From BBC • Jun. 24, 2026
This is in line with the rise in man-to-man pressure we've seen become more common in club football.
From BBC • Jun. 22, 2026
PSG step up to defend in a man-to-man fashion but because Merino drops into central midfield without Pacho following him - one of PSG's midfielders has to come across to mark him.
From BBC • May 30, 2026
A clear trend in world football has been the increase in man-to-man defending, something Premier League coaches Pep Guardiola and Mikel Arteta have stressed all season.
From BBC • Apr. 28, 2026
It was an isolation offense to run when another team played us man-to-man defense.
From "All American Boys" by Jason Reynolds
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.
