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.
The collapse comes after more than a year of on-again, off-again trade talks, which intensified in recent weeks after a US-imposed deadline to strike a deal or face further tariffs.
From BBC ● Aug. 22, 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
In his lawsuit, Cipriani alleged that, during months of on-again, off-again conversations, Shell dished sensitive information to him, including that Paramount was poised to strike a $7.7-billion deal to bring UFC fights to Paramount+.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 11, 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
JORDIE: We've always had a kind of on-again, off-again thing.
From "Linked" by Gordon Korman
Random Word
Spin the wheel and learn a new word!
Get a wordDefinitions 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.
