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• one-on-one
  one-on-one

  adjective

  consisting of or involving direct individual competition, confrontation, or communication; person-to-person.
• one on one
  one on one

  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]

one-on-one

American  

[wuhn-on-wuhn, -awn-] / ˈwʌn ɒnˈwʌn, -ɔn- /

adjective

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

   a one-on-one discussion.

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adverb

1. in direct encounter.

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

noun

1. a meeting or confrontation between two persons.

idioms

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

one-on-one British  

adjective

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

   a one-on-one meeting

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one on one More Idioms  

1. 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]

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Etymology

Origin of one-on-one

An Americanism dating back to 1965–70

Example Sentences

And what about patients “who are very sick or otherwise unable to engage in one-on-one price negotiations with providers”? They’ll be on their own.

From Los Angeles Times • May 28, 2026

When he meets with Wembanyama one-on-one, the Jackals’ president doesn’t just pinch himself.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 27, 2026

“I don’t think he is preferable as a competitor. I don’t want any competitors, how about that?” the mayor said during a one-on-one debate with Raman at the Sherman Oaks Homeowners Assn.

From Los Angeles Times • May 19, 2026

But she also got constructive advice, including from a person who offered suggestions about every room in the house in a one-on-one conversation.

From MarketWatch • May 13, 2026

Cabin eleven was too nervous to have sword class with me after what I’d done to the Ares folks in the woods, so my lessons with Luke became one-on-one.

From "The Lightning Thief" by Rick Riordan

Related Words

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