mano a mano

American  

[mah-naw ah mah-naw, mah-noh uh mah-noh] / ˈmɑ nɔ ɑ ˈmɑ nɔ, ˈmɑ noʊ ə ˈmɑ noʊ /

noun

manos a manos plural

1. (italics) a corrida in which two matadors alternate in fighting two or three bulls each.

2. a direct confrontation or conflict; head-on competition; duel.

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adjective

1. being or resembling such a confrontation.

   a mano a mano struggle in the courtroom between two superb criminal lawyers.

adverb

1. in direct competition or rivalry.

   a brash newcomer in tennis taking on the reigning champion mano a mano.

Other Word Forms

Inflected Forms

noun

• manos a manos
  plural

Etymology

Origin of mano a mano

< Spanish: on an equal footing, without advantage (to either of two contestants); literally, hand to hand

Example Sentences

Their long awaited mano a mano could arrive as soon as Sunday at Aronimink, where they will tee off as the top two favorites.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 13, 2026

That’s not nearly as dramatic as the mano a mano competition on the track, where some races are over in 10 seconds, the winner decided by an eyelash.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 15, 2024

Sam Song Li is describing a scene from Netflix's dark action-comedy "The Brothers Sun," in which he and his onscreen brother played by Justin Chien are going mano a mano with . . . dinosaurs.

From Salon • Jan. 4, 2024

CEO Zuckerberg - whose social media platforms duke it out daily for advertising dollars - have been trading bluster about going mano a mano.

From Reuters • Jun. 22, 2023

Reed and McIlroy, already with a memorable mano a mano duel in their past, telegraphed in word and deed that they are ready for each other.

From Washington Post • Apr. 7, 2018