nose-to-nose

adjective

Direct, confrontational.

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Meanings

adjectivenose-to-nose (comparative more nose-to-nose, superlative most nose-to-nose)

comparative more nose-to-nose · superlative most nose-to-nose

  1. Direct, confrontational.

    "Nose to nose" describes the ongoing conflict between the two manufacturers over alleged subsidy levels each has received.

    2006, Martin Fojt, The Airline Industry, page 11
    2 more examples

    Almost indistinguishable from the earlier 115-horse airplane, the new model is designed from the ground up to go nose-to-nose with big-engine, high-performance kit planes.

    1988 April, Popular Mechanics, volume 165, number 4, page 70

    Several. airlines. offer. domestic-partner. benefits. and. soar. into. a. nose-to-nose. battle. to. prove. which. carrier. can. take. you. higher.

    1999 September 14, Ted Gideonsi, The Advocate, number 794, page 34
Cite this entry
APA

nose-to-nose. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/nose-to-nose

MLA

“nose-to-nose.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/nose-to-nose. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “nose-to-nose,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/nose-to-nose.

Source: nose-to-nose on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.