on-again, off-again

Or on-a·gain-off-a·gain

[on-uh-gen awf-uh-gen, of-, awn-]

adjective

1. being in force or inoperative by turns, especially spasmodically and unpredictably.

   an on-again, off-again romance.

Word History and Origins

Origin of off again, on again¹

First recorded in 1945–50

Idioms and Phrases

see off and on, def. 2.