Mano-a-mano

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Mano-a-mano is a Spanish construction meaning "hand to hand". It was used originally in bullfights where just the matador and the bull confront each other.

Current Spanish usage describes any kind of competition between two people where they both compete, but somehow cooperate in achieving something.

Within the Doce Pares Eskrima fighting system, it is one of the three ranges of engagement, specifically the closest one. This does not indicate solely unarmed combat.

This term has been adopted in English with similar meaning, possibly by Ernest Hemingway. The English adoption can be likened to the phrases "one on one", "head to head", or "single combat".

It is commonly misunderstood as a cognate by English speakers who think that the term means "man to man". This is further increased by the fact that this is the right meaning in Portuguese.

French sometimes use this expression in a blend of the Portuguese and Spanish meaning. “Donner quelque chose de mano a mano” means to give something to someone in person, with direct physical contact (as opposed to using an intermediary, be it a common friend, a phone call or an e-mail).