one-on-one

[wuhn-on-wuhn, -awn-]

adjective

1. consisting of or involving direct individual competition, confrontation, or communication; person-to-person.

   a one-on-one discussion.

adverb

1. in direct encounter.

   I'd rather settle this with her one-on-one.

noun

1. a meeting or confrontation between two persons.

one-on-one

adjective

1. denoting a relationship or encounter in which someone is involved with only one other person

   a one-on-one meeting

Word History and Origins

Origin of one on one¹

An Americanism dating back to 1965–70

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. go one-on-one with, to play directly against (an opposing player).

A direct encounter between two persons, especially a conflict, as in The two department heads went one on one regarding shelf space. This slangy expression almost certainly comes from sports. It is commonly used to refer to a two-person basketball game, but is also applied to the interaction of two players on opposing teams in football, soccer, and similar team sports. [c. 1960]

Related Words

• antagonism 
• clash 
• conflict 
• contest 
• duel 
• encounter 
• event 
• fight 
• jealousy 
• matchup 
• race 
• strife 
• struggle 
• tug-of-war