# What does "mano a mano" mean? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cecil's Columns/Staff Reports\ **Created:** [March 22, 2014, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-mano-a-mano-mean/685174 "2014-03-22T23:28:39Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![avignani](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/87869e/32.png) [@avignani](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/avignani)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2014, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-mano-a-mano-mean/685174/1 "2014-03-22T23:28:39Z")
In Italian, this expression has nothing to do with fight. “A mano a mano” or “Di mano in mano” is used for an action extended over time, with a sense of gradual increase; e.g. “a mano a mano che leggevo il libro…” can be translated as "While (As) I was reading the book…). On the other hand (appropriately), “hand is hand” is in Italian “mano nella mano”. Alberto Vignani - Turin, Italy * * * LINK TO COLUMN: [What does the expression “mano a mano” mean? - The Straight Dope](http://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/1131/what-does-the-expression-mano-a-mano-mean) ---
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2014, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-mano-a-mano-mean/685174/2 "2014-03-22T23:44:57Z")
In common American usage, it is understood to mean a one on one contest, usually a fight. ---
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2014, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-mano-a-mano-mean/685174/3 "2014-03-22T23:52:10Z")
Hand to hand, as in combat. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2014, 1:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-mano-a-mano-mean/685174/4 "2014-03-23T01:22:00Z")
And then I cry, “No mas!” ---
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2014, 1:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-mano-a-mano-mean/685174/5 "2014-03-23T01:48:38Z")
And I say "I’m not really left-handed! (But somehow, in Italian) ---
**Author:** ![John\_W.Kennedy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_w.kennedy/32/1031_2.png) [@John\_W.Kennedy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_W.Kennedy)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2014, 4:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-mano-a-mano-mean/685174/6 "2014-03-23T04:34:42Z")
And in practice, it is painfully clear that some Americans (at least) think it means “manly-man _vs._ manly-man”. ---
**Author:** ![C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b2d939/32.png) [@C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C_K_Dexter_Haven)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2014, 12:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-mano-a-mano-mean/685174/7 "2014-03-23T12:42:29Z")
Welcome to the Straight Dope Message Boards, **avignani** , we’re glad you found us (we don’t have many posters/readers in Italy, I don’t think, so you’re doubly welcome!) For future reference: when you start a thread, it’s helpful to provide a link to the column in question. Saves search time, and helps keep us on the same page (mostly), with no need to re-state what’s already in the column. In this case, I’ve edited a link at the bottom on your post. No problem at all, you’ll know for next time, and (as I said) welcome indeed! ---
**Author:** ![qazwart](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/5fc32e/32.png) [@qazwart](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/qazwart)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2014, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-mano-a-mano-mean/685174/8 "2014-03-23T19:10:56Z")
I have a feeling that mano a mano became a popular saying because it sounds like “man to man” in English, but because it’s not in English, it sounds extra tough. ---
**Author:** ![oogabooga](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/c68b51/32.png) [@oogabooga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/oogabooga)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2014, 10:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-mano-a-mano-mean/685174/9 "2014-03-28T10:07:44Z")
It’s latin, of course. It just sounds like italian. Literally: “Man on Man”. As in (to the yanks) “Lets take this outside” ---
**Author:** ![qazwart](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/5fc32e/32.png) [@qazwart](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/qazwart)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2014, 1:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-mano-a-mano-mean/685174/10 "2014-03-28T13:28:46Z")
> [@oogabooga](#): > > It’s latin, of course. It just sounds like italian. > Literally: “Man on Man”. As in (to the yanks) “Lets take this outside” Nope it’s either Spanish or Portuguese. and means “Hand to Hand” The phrase comes from bullfighting when two matadors competed against each other in the ring for the adoration of the crowd. The two matadors didn’t fight each other, they simply went one after the other fighting the bulls. After all, this is a civilized society! ---
**Author:** ![eastcheap](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8491ac/32.png) [@eastcheap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eastcheap)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2014, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-mano-a-mano-mean/685174/11 "2014-03-28T19:28:53Z")
> [@qazwart](#): > > Nope it’s either Spanish or Portuguese. and means “Hand to Hand” And is a _whole_ lot easier to enunciate than _hombre a hombre._ If you wanted man-to-man in Latin, I suppose it would be something like _homo ad hominem,_ which probably leaves something to be desired in terms of modern colloquial English. ---
**Author:** ![BrotherCadfael](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@BrotherCadfael](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrotherCadfael)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2014, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-mano-a-mano-mean/685174/12 "2014-03-28T19:38:37Z")
From _Castle_: Castle: So, what do you say to a little showdown? Head to head, toe to toe, winner take all, mano a mujer. Beckett: “Hand to woman”? Castle: Whatever it takes. ---
**Author:** ![eastcheap](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8491ac/32.png) [@eastcheap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eastcheap)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2014, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-mano-a-mano-mean/685174/13 "2014-03-28T20:01:03Z")
> [@BrotherCadfael](#): > > Whatever it takes. _Carpe canis!_ ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2014, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-mano-a-mano-mean/685174/14 "2014-03-29T22:14:14Z")
> [@John\_W.Kennedy](#): > > And in practice, it is painfully clear that some Americans (at least) think it means “manly-man _vs._ manly-man”. ¿Quién es más macho? ---
**Author:** ![qazwart](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/5fc32e/32.png) [@qazwart](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/qazwart)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2014, 12:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-mano-a-mano-mean/685174/15 "2014-03-31T12:52:50Z")
> [@eastcheap](#): > > If you wanted man-to-man in Latin, I suppose it would be something like _homo ad hominem,_ which probably leaves something to be desired in terms of modern colloquial English. Not at all. I can imagine that becoming a very popular saying in particular bars in many metropolitan areas. > [@](#): > > Maybe you’d like to take this outside and go… Never mind. ---
**Author:** ![mirma9](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/cab0a1/32.png) [@mirma9](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mirma9)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2014, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-mano-a-mano-mean/685174/16 "2014-04-02T16:00:51Z")
The expression “mano a mano” in Italian actually means little by little, or as you go. Kind regards Riccardo ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2014, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-mano-a-mano-mean/685174/17 "2014-04-02T16:07:40Z")
[http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=718989](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=718989) ---
**Author:** ![Marks](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ce73a5/32.png) [@Marks](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marks)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2014, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-mano-a-mano-mean/685174/18 "2014-04-02T17:48:36Z")
The expression “mano a mano” means: returned favor, to get even with someone, draw, taken for revenge. ---
**Author:** ![C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b2d939/32.png) [@C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C_K_Dexter_Haven)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2014, 1:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-mano-a-mano-mean/685174/19 "2014-04-08T01:37:11Z")
MODERATOR NOTE: THere was already a thread on this topic, so I’ve merged them ---
**Author:** ![Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spectre_of_pithecanthropus/32/12343_2.png) [@Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spectre_of_Pithecanthropus)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2014, 3:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-mano-a-mano-mean/685174/20 "2014-04-08T03:01:34Z")
> [@Oakminster](#): > > In common American usage, it is understood to mean a one on one contest, usually a fight. I’m willing to bet that most Americans believe it comes from the Spanish, and often phrase it as “mano-y-mano”…or is that correct in Spanish, after all? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-mano-a-mano-mean/685174.md?page=2)