Man to Man

I was always under the assumption it ment you wanted talk about things of a mature or grownup matter. Thats how I've always used it...
RB

Thanks for the comment, Renegade! I like how you've used it. Where are you located?

I'm with Renegade on this one, you want to talk about grown up issues.

Hey hterry --

That's good to know, thanks! That's closet to my original Nebraska intent than what I found in New Jersey.

it means we're not going to have a chat because there's serious business to do

Thanks for the clarification, clem! Whereabouts is that philosophy applied?

mainly growing up on farmland in Kansas but i'm in arizona now where don't really use that phrase much around here

I appreciate the further, info, clem and I wish you all the best under the sun!

To me it means a serious talk about something I've done wrong, but I don't want a man-to-man talk about it.

RuKsaK!

I agree the phrase has serious undertones and the ensuing conversation is usually never light or fun. It is probably better, as you suggest, to have that kind of discussion without that heavy preamble.

I've always seen it used where I live now (Texas) in the "son, I have some advice on being an adult to give you" sense. I never heard it used in New York, where I used to live, really.

That's an interesting take on the phrase, Irene -- the South and Midwest have a perhaps more "manly" feel for it while in New York and New Jersey there isn't much use for it or it is misunderstood...

Hilarious, Dave! Love it!

As well, I unfortunately I know the curse of both "man to man" and "we need to talk" and even spinning them against each other where a man would say to a woman "let's talk man to man" and a man would say to another man "we need to talk" doesn't lessen the dread or quiet the weeping laughter!

I'm originally from NJ and I can't say I've ever thought this meant a fight was coming although I did hear it LOTS growing up there. I've heard the expression in lots of places and have always taken it to mean that someone wanted to have an open, honest talk with no BS. Or in other words, that's how men talk, not boys.
Peace.............

Hi Helen!

Thanks for your perspective on New Jersey. I like it that your experience with the phrase demonstrates the need for a serious tone and it does not necessarily intend a bodily threat.
:grin:

Yea, I have to agree with Renegade with this one, and that would be California... for the record. ;)

Thanks for the vote, suki!