toe-to-toe

adjective or adverb

: slugging it out at or as if at close range
a toe-to-toe confrontation over the new policy

Examples of toe-to-toe in a Sentence

mom-and-pop grocery stores are usually wildly outmatched when they go toe-to-toe with large chain stores
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Harriet Haynes and Lucy Smith went toe-to-toe in the Ultimate Pool Women's Pro Series Event 2 at Robin Park Leisure Centre in Wigan. Ryan Morik, FOXNews.com, 23 Apr. 2025 Despite being wonderfully designed and able to go toe-to-toe mechanically with any other fighting game out there, City of the Wolves doesn’t quite do enough to differentiate itself from its peers. Christopher Cruz, Rolling Stone, 21 Apr. 2025 The successful council members need to therefore have team working abilities (with their fellow council members and with the mayor of the city) as well as have professional/real world experience to go toe-to-toe with the city management staff. Harrison Mantas, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 20 Apr. 2025 The Golden State is going toe-to-toe with President Donald Trump on tariffs. Kate Nishimura, Sourcing Journal, 16 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for toe-to-toe

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1942, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of toe-to-toe was circa 1942

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Cite this Entry

“Toe-to-toe.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/toe-to-toe. Accessed 29 Apr. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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