toe-to-toe

[toh-tuh-toh]

adjective

1. being in direct confrontation or opposition.

adverb

1. in a position or attitude of direct confrontation.

   slugging it out toe-to-toe.

toe-to-toe

adverb

1. in one-to-one combat or in direct competition

   there aren't many fighters willing to go toe-to-toe with him

adjective

1. (of battles, confrontations, or contests) involving two people or groups fighting with or competing against each other

   a toe-to-toe battle

noun

1. a fight, confrontation, or contest between two people or groups

Word History and Origins

Origin of toe-to-toe¹

First recorded in 1925–30

Example Sentences

“But I knew I was going toe-to-toe with the person who I’ve witnessed to have the biggest engine, this massive scale of humanity, on-screen. I was so nervous about the job for that reason.”

Read more on Los Angeles Times

“What happened to me using my powers to go toe-to-toe with a god?”

Read more on Literature

We dance away from the weather, toe-to-toe with strangers, as cups get drained and refilled by now-roving bottles.

Read more on Salon

Going toe-to-toe with Kyrgios from the baseline is unlikely to be productive, so trying to make him move around the court - particularly given his fitness worries - would look to be the smart play.

Read more on BBC

In the last few seasons, Rangers, for all their other faults at the time, went toe-to-toe with Athletic Club, Benfica, RB Leipzig and Borussia Dortmund.

Read more on BBC