stop-and-go
Americanadjective
Etymology
Origin of stop-and-go
First recorded in 1920–25
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.
When officials confronted a similar dilemma, during the so-called stagflation of the 1970s, the central bank’s stop-and-go response allowed high inflation to become entrenched.
From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 10, 2025
The company wants to build the infrastructure needed to integrate air travel into congested urban centers as an alternative to stop-and-go car trips.
From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 3, 2025
Verstappen was in a tight fight with Norris throughout the race until the Briton was given a 10-second stop-and-go penalty for failing to slow for yellow flags.
From BBC • Dec. 1, 2024
We inched comfortably through stop-and-go Saturday afternoon traffic and made an impressive left turn ahead of two lanes of oncoming cars as I said my prayers in the passenger seat.
From Slate • Oct. 21, 2024
She a stop-and-go driver and I feel nauseous, wish she’d just keep both hands on the wheel.
From "The Help" by Kathryn Stockett
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.
