An Americanism dating back to 1965–70
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Former deputy prime minister Barnaby Joyce was being interviewed on national broadcaster ABC on Monday night when he interrupted the one-on-one to shriek "sit down!"
From Barron's ● Jul. 21, 2026
"I only go between work and home. I don't have a hobby. I tried to get one but they were all one-on-one activities."
From BBC ● Jul. 10, 2026
But one of his biggest tips is that face-to-face, one-on-one conversations are much more effective than group training sessions.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 8, 2026
Americans have largely heard about the famous French creche system of public daycares, but the French government also subsidizes the kind of one-on-one at-home care that many parents of infants prefer.
From Slate ● Jul. 6, 2026
In a one-on-one brawl, a Neanderthal would probably have beaten a Sapiens.
From "Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind" by Yuval Noah Harari
Texas A&M’s M.B.A. candidates are required to do intense preparation before career fairs, and a counselor met with him one on one to help him prepare for specific interviews and practice salary negotiations.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 18, 2026
He’d tell anyone and everyone he could beat you one on one.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 22, 2026
The leaders then spent more than half an hour talking one on one, before a classic of the Trumpian genre – a rolling, free-wheeling question-and-answer session with reporters, lasting more than an hour.
From BBC ● Jul. 28, 2025
Hemp coming into the game later with her electric speed, dribbling capabilities and ability to go one on one against full-backs could make an impact.
From BBC ● Jul. 25, 2025
At long last, my mother and father could again talk with each other one on one.
From "The Boy on the Wooden Box" by Leon Leyson
He has shown he is able to take one-on-ones on and make it difficult for the defenders he is facing.
From BBC ● Apr. 13, 2026
“The years of ‘Your Special Day’ of one-on-ones with each grandkid are some of their fondest memories,” the family said in her obituary.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 6, 2025
They have had some wins in the one-on-ones with defensive linemen that we’ve seen the past two days since pads went on.
From Seattle Times ● Aug. 2, 2023
Dear Miss Manners: Being blown off for meetings, including my one-on-ones, has taken the wind out of my sails, professionally.
From Washington Post ● Apr. 19, 2023
In one-on-ones, advantage is to the shooter, especially if he’s as good as this guy.
From "Tradition" by Brendan Kiely
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.
