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How direct fellows talk about marking system? (3-2-3)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

man-to-man

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'how' is the definition.
Both the answer and definition are adverbs. Perhaps you can see a link between them that I don't see?

I cannot understand how the remainder of the clue works.

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(Other definitions for man-to-man that I've seen before include "With frankness, as father may speak to son" , "Frank and confidential" , "Directly and frankly" , "Between males, with frankness" , "Frankly and confidentially" .)

I've seen this clue in The Irish Times.
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