man-to-man
Candid and intimate
Man-to-man describes direct, frank communication between men, especially about serious or personal matters: We need to have a man-to-man talk.
The phrase implies candor and mutual respect.
In basketball, man-to-man defense assigns each defender to guard a specific opponent rather than a zone: They switched from zone to man-to-man in the fourth quarter.
Indicating with symbols
- guardWatchful defensive attention
- coverageExtent of inclusion
- assignmentAllocated work or duty
- one-on-oneDirect, between two
matchup · containment · defender · tracking · pressure · tight · shutdown · block
Open and direct
- candidHonest and direct
- straightforwardClear and uncomplicated
- forthrightDirectly honest in manner
- directUndeviating or to guide
sincere · blunt · plain-spoken · upfront · unvarnished · transparent · open · genuine
Bounded area designation
- coverageExtent of inclusion
- tacticsMethods to achieve goals
- formationCreation or arrangement
- playbookDocumented set of tactics
scheme · adjustment · gameplan · execution · schematic · switching · press · lineup
Sincere personal discussion
- conversationExchange of spoken ideas
- candorUnguarded truthfulness
- franknessDirect, unguarded honesty
- opennessQuality of being accessible
confession · advice · disclosure · dialogue · discussion · guidance · sincerity · truthfulness
marking
Indicating with symbols
- guardWatchful defensive attention
- coverageExtent of inclusion
- assignmentAllocated work or duty
one-on-one · matchup · containment · defender · tracking · pressure · tight · shutdown · block · tackle
frank
Open and direct
- candidHonest and direct
- straightforwardClear and uncomplicated
- forthrightDirectly honest in manner
direct · sincere · blunt · plain-spoken · upfront · unvarnished · transparent · open · genuine · truthful
zone
Bounded area designation
playbook · scheme · adjustment · gameplan · execution · schematic · switching · press · lineup · coaching
heart-to-heart
Sincere personal discussion
- conversationExchange of spoken ideas
- candorUnguarded truthfulness
- franknessDirect, unguarded honesty
openness · confession · advice · disclosure · dialogue · discussion · guidance · sincerity · truthfulness · forthrightness
- basketballbasketball, rebound, dunk, basketball camps, dribble
- defensedefense, defending, protecting, protection, security
- sports termssoccer, football, basketball, tennis, golf
- game strategiesoffense, defense, counterattack, formation, positioning
- tacticsmaneuver, counter-attack, gambit, ambush, counterstrike
- Lacrosselacrosse stick, lacrosse ball, goal, goalie, attack
man-to-manindirect
Not straight or immediate
evasive · roundabout · guarded · beating around the bush · impersonal
man-to-manpublic
Available to all
one-to-many · impersonal · broadcast · common · mass communication