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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

“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012


adjective

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

    a toe-to-toe battle

“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

noun

  1. a fight, confrontation, or contest between two people or groups
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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Word History and Origins

Origin of toe-to-toe1

First recorded in 1925–30
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Example Sentences

Two Wal-Mart customers went toe-to-toe over a TV during an early Black Friday sale Thursday night.

“Oh, he can go more than toe-to-toe, he leads the way,” says Williams.

Aggression has always been the name of the game for Williams, who has few rivals who can hit with her toe-to-toe.

Who is this woman going toe-to-toe with Wintour, when all others appear to tremble, and who excels because of it?

The president defused another toe-to-toe confrontation with humor.

But Old Joe was a scientific boxer who knew better than to stand toe-to-toe and trade punches.

In this kind of toe-to-toe fight the greater speed of a lightly armored fighter was not much advantage.

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