eyeball to eyeball

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Related to eyeball to eyeball: see eye to eye

eyeball to eyeball

In direct contact; face to face or eye to eye. I had been trying to avoid my math teacher, but then I came eyeball to eyeball with her in the cafeteria. Only when I was eyeball to eyeball with Tim and we were screaming in each other's faces did I realize how much we needed to break up. Society is about to come eyeball to eyeball with a whole new set of problems brought on by technology.

See also: eyeball

eyeball to eyeball

Face to face; especially, about to begin a conflict. For example, We are eyeball to eyeball with the enemy, or In the playoffs we go eyeball to eyeball with the Yankees, or In the first debate our candidate's going eyeball to eyeball with his opponent. This term was originally used only in a military context but later entered civilian language, particularly in political or sports confrontations. [Colloquial; c. 1950]

See also: eyeball

eyeball to eyeball

JOURNALISM

If two people are eyeball to eyeball, they are facing each other and are very close, usually while arguing or threatening each other. Stam went eyeball to eyeball with the linesman and can count himself lucky to have escaped a red card. Note: Eyeball-to-eyeball can also be used before a noun. It was a tough negotiation that led to eyeball-to-eyeball confrontations with union leaders.

See also: eyeball

eyeball to eyeball

face to face with someone, especially in an aggressive way.

See also: eyeball

ˌeyeball to ˈeyeball (with somebody)

(informal) standing very close, facing one another, for example in a fight: The two men stood eyeball to eyeball, shouting insults at each other.

See also: eyeball

eyeball to eyeball

mod. face to face. Let’s talk more when we are eyeball to eyeball.

See also: eyeball

References in periodicals archive ?

That was when Dean Rusk delivered one of the most memorable phrases of the crisis: "We're eyeball to eyeball and I think the other fellow just blinked.

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After a first half where he had a player sent off and a penalty appeal turned down, Grant snapped and went eyeball to eyeball with Kevin Friend after marching onto the pitch to confront the referee.

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Tesco and the city council are currently eyeball to eyeball at the public inquiry into plans to redevelop Kirkby town centre.

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I believe that it's right and proper that you face people what I call eyeball to eyeball - I don't believe you should ever be second best - but I don't believe you should ever start a war.

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Ethan Fodor, 3, goes eyeball to eyeball with Gino, one of the puppet characters from "The Shoemaker and the Elves.

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is she can do it eyeball to eyeball and she can do it all by herself.

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Filan ( he was in goal for Coventry City the day Les Ferdinand scored his first goal for United ( and Sibby were eyeball to eyeball at one stage.

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Emailing and texting may be faster but better business is done eyeball to eyeball, according to a survey of Northern business leaders.

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The best one is where the parents are having an eyeball to eyeball confrontation and the kids say sadly, in unison, "Over ( tired".

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Meanwhile a Lerwick optician told a court he was 'tender all over' after being punched by his love rival who had flown from London for an eyeball to eyeball which got out of hand.

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Talk of the two countries going to war has stopped, but the troops still stand eyeball to eyeball.

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Yet for the last three to four months we have two of America's greatest partners in the region, India and Pakistan, almost eyeball to eyeball on the border.

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I was just saying: "sorry love" when I realise who it was and then suddenly I was staring into the bluest eyes I had ever had the privilege to be eyeball to eyeball with.