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.
The 49ers were in man-to-man coverage and lost track of the Chargers quarterback.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 21, 2026
Former manager Ruben Amorim's solution to the increase in man-to-man pressure across the Premier League was to encourage goalkeeper Senne Lammens to play long.
From BBC ● Aug. 19, 2026
And his change in defensive approach appears to be trying to ensure his side are ready for teams who are preparing to play against man-to-man presses more often.
From BBC ● Aug. 14, 2026
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
It seemed that Papa and I never could hold a man-to-man conversation without Mama getting all worked up; especially, if we were talking about my going down to the river bottoms.
From "Summer of the Monkeys" by Wilson Rawls
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.
