on-again, off-again
Americanadjective
Etymology
Origin of on-again, off-again
First recorded in 1945–50
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Not included in the “Girls” revival promo was Adam Driver, who played an actor named Adam and the on-again, off-again love interest of Dunham’s Hannah Horvath.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 13, 2026
Investors still have plenty of volatility-fueling worries: the on-again, off-again war with Iran and new questions about how the Federal Reserve will fight inflation.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 9, 2026
And in another bit of history, on-again, off-again manager Dick Advocaat will become the oldest boss in World Cup history at the age of 78.
From BBC ● Jun. 14, 2026
The on-again, off-again nature of negotiations about a lasting cease-fire in the Gulf has also made calculations harder.
From MarketWatch ● Jun. 9, 2026
Soon after McCandless returned to Carthage that spring, Westerberg introduced him to his longtime, on-again, off-again girl-friend, Gail Borah, a petite, sad-eyed woman, as slight as a heron, with delicate features and long blond hair.
From "Into the Wild" by Jon Krakauer
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
