off and on
Definition
Adverb: In an intermittent or irregular manner; occurring or happening occasionally, with breaks in between, rather than continuously or on a regular schedule.
Usage
The phrase "off and on" describes an action or state that starts, stops, and starts again over a period of time. It emphasizes the sporadic, non-continuous nature of an activity.
Examples
- It rained off and on throughout the day, so we had to keep going in and out of the house.
- I've studied Spanish off and on for years, but I'm not fluent because I never practice consistently.
- They have been dating off and on since high school, but they can never seem to make it work for long.
Advanced Usage
- "Off and on" can sometimes be written with hyphens when used as a compound modifier before a noun.
- They've had an off-and-on relationship for a decade.
Variants and Related Words
- On and off: This is a perfectly interchangeable variant with the same meaning.
- He has worked here on and off for five years.
Synonyms
- Intermittently
- Sporadically
- Periodically
- Fitfully
Antonyms
- Continuously
- Constantly
- Steadily
- Regularly
Adverb
-
not regularly
-
they phone each other off and on
-
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Từ chứa "off and on"
