An Americanism dating back to 1965–70
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Former deputy prime minister Barnaby Joyce was being interviewed on national broadcaster ABC on Monday night when he interrupted the one-on-one to shriek "sit down!"
From Barron's ● Jul. 21, 2026
Americans have largely heard about the famous French creche system of public daycares, but the French government also subsidizes the kind of one-on-one at-home care that many parents of infants prefer.
From Slate ● Jul. 6, 2026
He punched away crosses, repelled free kick after free kick and, in one breath-catching moment, spread his limbs to deny Messi in a one-on-one.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 4, 2026
At first, Wudarowicz said Westwood appeared calm during the one-on-one lessons and she felt safe.
From BBC ● Jul. 3, 2026
A few minutes later he stole the puck and charged toward me, one-on-one.
From "Tradition" by Brendan Kiely
What about dealing with Haaland one on one?
From BBC ● Jun. 22, 2026
Texas A&M’s M.B.A. candidates are required to do intense preparation before career fairs, and a counselor met with him one on one to help him prepare for specific interviews and practice salary negotiations.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 18, 2026
He’d tell anyone and everyone he could beat you one on one.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 22, 2026
The leaders then spent more than half an hour talking one on one, before a classic of the Trumpian genre – a rolling, free-wheeling question-and-answer session with reporters, lasting more than an hour.
From BBC ● Jul. 28, 2025
“You ready to go one on one, Dad?”
From "The Great Santini" by Pat Conroy
Then it's just creating one-on-ones for our powerful ball carriers.
From BBC ● Feb. 14, 2024
According to the Microsoft report, nearly three-quarters of people managers believe more guidance on what to prioritize would improve their performance, but more than two-thirds say their managers have never given clear guidance in one-on-ones.
From Seattle Times ● Aug. 31, 2023
“We’re bumping into each other in these intense one-on-ones trying to score and one-up each other,” Mazino says.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 21, 2023
Dear Miss Manners: Being blown off for meetings, including my one-on-ones, has taken the wind out of my sails, professionally.
From Washington Post ● Apr. 19, 2023
In one-on-ones, advantage is to the shooter, especially if he’s as good as this guy.
From "Tradition" by Brendan Kiely
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
