on-again, off-again

or on-a·gain-off-a·gain

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

/ ˈɒn əˌgɛn ˈɔf əˌgɛn, ˈɒf-, ˈɔn- /

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See synonyms for on-again, off-again on Thesaurus.com

adjective

being in force or inoperative by turns, especially spasmodically and unpredictably: an on-again, off-again romance.

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Origin of on-again, off-again

First recorded in 1945–50

Words nearby on-again, off-again

on account, on account of, on a dime, on a first-name basis, on again, on-again, off-again, onager, onagraceous, on-air, on a limb, on all fours

How to use on-again, off-again in a sentence

Normal People, her next novel, followed an on-again, off-again romance between two teenagers into their university years, pulling a thread of domestic violence and female subjugation.
Sally Rooney and the Art of the Millennial Novel|Cady Lang|September 3, 2021|Time
Just the hard-on before you shoot unarmed members of the public.
'Babylon' Review: The Dumb Lives of Trigger-Happy Cops|Melissa Leon|January 9, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Meanwhile, almost exactly 30 years after the trial, the judge left his home to board a steamboat and was never heard from again.
New York’s Most Tragic Ghost Loves Minimalist Swedish Fashion|Nina Strochlic|January 8, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Again, the difference can seem subtle and sound more like splitting hairs, but the difference is important.
How Skinny Is Too Skinny? Israel Bans ‘Underweight’ Models|Carrie Arnold|January 8, 2015|DAILY BEAST

Although the blood-spattered offices will be off-limits, staff have vowed to continue producing the magazine.
France Mourns—and Hunts|Nico Hines, Christopher Dickey|January 8, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Then they came up against a police patrol on mountain bicycles, which again led to more shooting, without injuries.
Police Hunt for Paris Massacre Suspects|Tracy McNicoll, Christopher Dickey|January 7, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Each day she resolved, "To-morrow I will tell Felipe;" and when to-morrow came, she put it off again.
Ramona|Helen Hunt Jackson
And that was that if he and his wife were to ever live together again and be happy, the family were to be kept out of it.
The Homesteader|Oscar Micheaux
Before he could finish the sentence the Hole-keeper said snappishly, "Well, drop out again—quick!"
Davy and The Goblin|Charles E. Carryl
"Better so," was the Senora's sole reply; and she fell again into still deeper, more perplexed thought about the hidden treasure.
Ramona|Helen Hunt Jackson
Before the outlaw can comply with this small request the horn sounds again.
Physiology of The Opera|John H. Swaby (AKA "Scrici")