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 on-again, off-again¹

First recorded in 1945–50

Idioms and Phrases

see off and on, def. 2.

Example Sentences

“In this environment—between the government shutdown; lack of data coming from the government; on-again, off-again nature of the tariffs; trade uncertainties; all of those things—it’s been difficult for anyone to do forecasting,” Shay said.

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But owners of small businesses, farmers and economists are among the critics who say the on-again, off-again import taxes are disrupting business and damaging the economy.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Why is it that you, this family-owned business with 500 employees, and VOS Selections, another family-owned wine business, are out on the front lines, pushing back against not just the on-again, off-again tariffs but what you have just described as a purely monarchic theory of executive power?

Read more on Slate

The on-again, off-again trade war between the U.S. and China this year has been felt around the world.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Choking off supplies as Beijing looks to meet its target for economic growth over the final months of the year could prove crucial in establishing U.S. leverage in the on-again/off-again negotiations between Washington and Beijing, although it could also amount to a provocation that would hinder efforts to reduce tensions on trade.

Read more on Barron's