dos-a-dos: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2/RareFormal, Literary, Technical (dance, publishing, furniture design)
Quick answer
What does “dos-a-dos” mean?
A configuration where two items or people are positioned with their backs facing each other.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A configuration where two items or people are positioned with their backs facing each other.
Can describe physical arrangements (e.g., seating, books bound back-to-back), social situations of mutual avoidance, or sequential events occurring in close succession.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Slightly more prevalent in British English, particularly in descriptions of aristocratic or historical settings. In American English, it's almost exclusively used in specialized contexts like dance or rare book collecting.
Connotations
UK: Connotes formality, history, and sometimes social awkwardness. US: Primarily a technical term with little social connotation.
Frequency
Very low frequency in both dialects. More likely encountered in written descriptions than in spoken language.
Grammar
How to Use “dos-a-dos” in a Sentence
[be] + arranged/positioned/seated + dos-à-dos[bind/print] + [object] + dos-à-dosVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “dos-a-dos” in a Sentence
noun
British English
- The rare volume was a dos-à-dos, containing two novels bound back-to-back.
- The old landau carriage featured a dos-à-dos seating arrangement.
American English
- The square dance caller shouted 'dos-à-dos!' though the term is traditionally 'do-si-do'.
- The library's special collection included a 17th-century dos-à-dos prayer book.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. Might describe office layouts or opposing negotiation stances.
Academic
Used in history, literature, and dance studies to describe specific physical or social configurations.
Everyday
Virtually never used in casual conversation.
Technical
Specific term in bookbinding (a dos-à-dos binding), square dancing (a 'do-si-do' figure, though this is a corrupted form), and carriage/furniture design.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “dos-a-dos”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “dos-a-dos”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “dos-a-dos”
- Misspelling as 'do-sa-do', 'dosa-do', or 'dos a dos' (missing accents).
- Using it as a verb (e.g., 'They dos-à-dosed').
- Confusing it with the more common 'tête-à-tête'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. 'Do-si-do' (often spelled 'do-sa-do') is a corrupted Anglicisation of 'dos-à-dos' used as a call for a specific circling movement. The original French term refers to a static back-to-back position.
In standard modern English, no. It is a noun or, less commonly, an adverb/adjectival phrase (e.g., 'they sat dos-à-dos'). The dance term 'do-si-do' is used as a verb.
In formal writing, the accents (dos-à-dos) are correct and indicate the French origin. In English, it is sometimes seen without accents ('dos a dos'), but this is considered less precise.
No. It is a rare, high-register word used in specific descriptive or technical contexts. Most learners will not need it for active use.
A configuration where two items or people are positioned with their backs facing each other.
Dos-a-dos is usually formal, literary, technical (dance, publishing, furniture design) in register.
Dos-a-dos: in British English it is pronounced /ˌdəʊz ə ˈdəʊ/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌdoʊz ə ˈdoʊ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “To live dos-à-dos (to coexist while ignoring each other)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine two people in a DOS operating system prompt, typing angrily with their backs turned—'DOS-à-DOS'.
Conceptual Metaphor
PHYSICAL ORIENTATION IS SOCIAL/IDEOLOGICAL ORIENTATION (e.g., 'They are dos-à-dos on the issue').
Practice
Quiz
In which field is 'dos-à-dos' a precise technical term?