on and off
IdiomsExample Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Reeling in grief he fled to his ranch, where he lived on and off for the next few years.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 13, 2026
Following Clarke's resignation, it is understandable that many supporters will be hoping for a change in the national team, on and off the park.
From BBC ● Jul. 7, 2026
There was a lot of poor decision-making with this match, on and off the pitch.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 7, 2026
Earlier devices produced inconsistent switching between their "on" and "off" states, and they lost their stored configuration once power was removed.
From Science Daily ● Jul. 7, 2026
Fireflies glittered in the leaves of the elm trees and in the ferns and in the hazel bushes, flickering on and off like the lights of a strange and distant city.
From "Stardust" by Neil Gaiman
Definitions 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.
