by Gin March 30, 2009
Get the Mango Mano mug.The term is Spanish and literally means "Hand to Hand" as in unarmed combat. However in its modern incarnation the term is used in any scenario where two (usually male) individuals are going to have some sort of competition. Eg Darts, Snooker, an actual fight, even videogames. It is rarely a serious threat.
by Jack Karch May 31, 2006
Get the mano a mano mug.Yet another humerous film quip has sailed over the heads of the gibbering, slack jawed, troglodytes to enter the vernacular, sans humor.
"mano y mano" is Spanish for hand AND hand. Used for comedic effect, to imply mental simplicity, in several films. (Other variants include "mono y mono", Spanish for monkey and monkey = malapropism el mejor)
("MANO A MANO" is Spanish for hand TO hand - combat...
This is the actual phrase that is so often mutilated)
"He dun call me ig'nint!"
"Reeallly, ignorant of what? Where would one start."
"mano y mano" is Spanish for hand AND hand. Used for comedic effect, to imply mental simplicity, in several films. (Other variants include "mono y mono", Spanish for monkey and monkey = malapropism el mejor)
("MANO A MANO" is Spanish for hand TO hand - combat...
This is the actual phrase that is so often mutilated)
"He dun call me ig'nint!"
"Reeallly, ignorant of what? Where would one start."
by ccaCrab May 6, 2008
Get the mano y mano mug.Spanish for "hand-to-hand". Used most commonly for a competition between two people - often in hand to hand combat.
The phrase is often mistakenly thought by English speaking people to mean "man-to-man".
The phrase is often mistakenly thought by English speaking people to mean "man-to-man".
by gp26 December 6, 2010
Get the mano e mano mug.by HistoriaViva September 10, 2018
Get the mano-a-mano mug.man to man, one on one, usually used in the context of a physical confrontation / altercation between two gentlemen.
by themarcuscreature February 21, 2005
Get the mano e mano mug.mano a mano; mano mano; man mano
As far as Italians are concerned these expressions (freely exchangeable) have only one use and meaning, the origin of which - most likely - has to do with the way in old times people used to measure short distances by using an open hand.
You put a hand widely open beside another end moving on as you take measures. From this habit in old times may have arisen the idea of following an event - shal we say - "step-by-step" (if you're measuring long distances) ... or similarly "hand-by-hand" (if you're measuring, say, a cloth or a stick of wood, etc.).
By extension, every time an Italian wants to mean following something very closely and at every new event uses this expression.
I mark on the wall my child's height as (mano a mano) he grows.
As far as Italians are concerned these expressions (freely exchangeable) have only one use and meaning, the origin of which - most likely - has to do with the way in old times people used to measure short distances by using an open hand.
You put a hand widely open beside another end moving on as you take measures. From this habit in old times may have arisen the idea of following an event - shal we say - "step-by-step" (if you're measuring long distances) ... or similarly "hand-by-hand" (if you're measuring, say, a cloth or a stick of wood, etc.).
By extension, every time an Italian wants to mean following something very closely and at every new event uses this expression.
I mark on the wall my child's height as (mano a mano) he grows.
Segno sul muro l'altezza di mio figlio MANO A MANO che cresce.
I mark on the wall my child's height (continuosly) AS he grows.
I mark on the wall my child's height (continuosly) AS he grows.
by pino-il-siracusano November 3, 2018
Get the mano a mano mug.