mano a mano

alternative mano-a-mano

1. A head-on conflict or direct competition.

   The public debate became a heated mano a mano between the two leading candidates.

   1 more example

   Hemingway's subject for the epilogue was the mano a mano (or hand-to-hand, a duel) between Spain's two leading matadors, Luis Miguel Dominguin and his brother-in-law, Antonio Ordonez.

   1985 June 9, William Kennedy, “The Last Ole”, in The New York Times, archived from the original on 27 Oct 2020

   Synonyms: duel

alternative mano-a-mano

1. not comparableIn close confrontation.

   We sat tensely in the courtroom while the mano-a-mano struggle ensued between the two skilled lawyers.

   1 more example

   When he finally goes mano a mano with Xavier at the climax, it’s in a psychic battle staged inside the latter’s dreamspace, which happens to look exactly like his mansion.

   2016 May 23, Ignatiy Vishnevetsky, “Apocalypse pits the strengths of the X-Men series against the weaknesses”, in The Onion AV Club, archived from the original on 17 Jun 2017

alternative mano-a-mano

1. not comparableCharacterized by head-to-head competition or conflict.

   The newcomer brashly engaged the veteran player mano a mano.

   1 more example

   Baz: 'BAD NEWS, BUD. I NEVER WANTED TO FIGHTCHA, BUT IF WE WANT OUT, WE GOTTA SCRAP! YOU 'N ME, MANO A MANO.'

   2019 December 10, Yacht Club Games, "Story" (Reize), in Shovel Knight Showdown (version 4.1), Nintendo Switch