tête-à-tête

American  

[teyt-uh-teyt, tet-uh-tet, te-ta-tet] / ˈteɪt əˈteɪt, ˈtɛt əˈtɛt, tɛ taˈtɛt /

noun

plural

tête-à-têtes,

plural

tête-à-tête

1. a private conversation or interview, usually between two people.

2. Also called vis-à-vis.  a sofa shaped like an S so two people are able to converse face to face.

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adjective

1. of, between, or for two persons together without others.

adverb

1. (of two persons) together in private.

   to sit tête-à-tête.

tête-à-tête British  

/ ˌteɪtəˈteɪt /

noun

1. 1. a private conversation between two people

   2. ( as modifier )

      a tête-à-tête conversation

2. a small sofa for two people, esp one that is S-shaped in plan so that the sitters are almost face to face

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adverb

1. intimately; in private

tête-à-tête Cultural  

1. An intimate meeting or conversation between two individuals. From French, meaning “head to head.”

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Etymology

Origin of tête-à-tête

First recorded in 1690–1700; from French: literally, “head to head”

Example Sentences

Whether it was a tête-à-tête with Lumon boss Mr. Drummond, where Mr. Milchick is told to shorten his words before choosing to do the opposite — the phrase “devour feculence” seethes with quiet rage — or leading a drumline in the dramatic season finale, Tillman stole many scenes.

From Los Angeles Times

When she revisited that high-octane scene on set with a more willing scene partner in Pelphrey, Jones said going tête-à-tête with him was a riveting experience: “I forgot that there were cameras rolling.”

From Los Angeles Times

For a few hours on Sunday, the United States and Colombia engaged in a full-blown economic tête-à-tête.

From Slate

The "Call Her Daddy" conversation was not the contentious tête-à-tête the chattering class has come to expect after decades of cable news bloviating somehow came to represent meaningful political coverage.

From Salon

In addition to the lip-dub feature, Ms. Ochoa will often use her iPad to translate their tête-à-tête, while Mr. Romero uses the Timekettle WT2 Edge — earbuds with two-way simultaneous translation that help him follow a conversation in real time.

From New York Times