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, Sports. to play directly against (an opposing player).

More idioms and phrases containing 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]

Example Sentences

In terms of one-on-one with employees, being a mom helps me ground my roots to humanity.

From The Daily Beast

“The more visitors their channels attract, the more one-on-one attention they get from the network,” says Del Muro.

From The Daily Beast

When the ball swings around to your man, they never come in one-on-one.

From The Daily Beast

The entourage, so out of place in the one-on-one battle arena, soon left the stage.

From The Daily Beast

So, it fosters one-on-one communication by the dude not communicating at all?

From The Daily Beast

Related Words

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