HEAD-TO-HEAD

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does head-to-head mean? 

• HEAD-TO-HEAD (adjective)
  The adjective HEAD-TO-HEAD has 2 senses:

1. involving two persons; intimately private

2. inconclusive as to outcome; close or just even in a race or comparison or competition

  Familiarity information: HEAD-TO-HEAD used as an adjective is rare.

• HEAD-TO-HEAD (adverb)
  The adverb HEAD-TO-HEAD has 1 sense:

1. even or close in a race or competition or comparison

  Familiarity information: HEAD-TO-HEAD used as an adverb is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• HEAD-TO-HEAD (adjective)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Involving two persons; intimately private

Synonyms:

head-to-head; tete-a-tete

Context example:

a head-to-head conversation

Similar:

private (confined to particular persons or groups or providing privacy)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Inconclusive as to outcome; close or just even in a race or comparison or competition

Synonyms:

head-to-head; neck and neck; nip and tuck

Context example:

the election was a nip and tuck affair

Similar:

inconclusive (not conclusive; not putting an end to doubt or question)

• HEAD-TO-HEAD (adverb)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Even or close in a race or competition or comparison

Synonyms:

head-to-head; neck and neck; nip and tuck

Context example:

he won nip and tuck

Pertainym:

head-to-head (inconclusive as to outcome; close or just even in a race or comparison or competition)

 Context examples 

Like the other members of the type IV collagen gene family, this gene is organized in a head-to-head conformation with another type IV collagen gene, alpha 5 type IV collagen, so that the gene pair shares a common promoter.

(Collagen IV (Alpha 6), NCI Thesaurus)