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Off and on

Idiomatic Phrase
Pronunciation

Understanding ARPABET Pronunciation

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The pronunciation guide uses the ARPABET phonetic system—the same system used in speech recognition and text-to-speech applications.

Vowel Examples:
AE1 = cat, bat
EH1 = bed, head
IY1 = see, me
OW1 = go, boat
UW1 = boot, do
Stress Numbers:
0 = no stress (unstressed)
1 = primary stress (loud)
2 = secondary stress (medium)
Example:
AH0 TH IY1 N AH0
= a-THEE-na (Athena)

The stressed syllable (marked with 1) is pronounced louder and clearer than others.

Quick Definition

Off and on|Idiomatic Phrase|Describes something occurring intermittently, irregularly, or with pauses; indicates a pattern of starting and stopping rather than continuous or consistent engagement.

Detailed Definition
Off and on means intermittently, irregularly, or from time to time rather than continuously. In poetry, the idiom can describe rain, illness, love, memory, work, quarrels, faith, or correspondence that returns in fragments. Its rhythm suggests alternation, flickering, and unstable continuity. A poet may use it to show how certain experiences never fully disappear but do not remain constant either. It is useful for moods and relationships that recur like weather, light, or a half-remembered tune.
Example
Example in poetry:
A memory poem might say the old clock worked off and on, like a heart remembering grief; In a love poem, letters arrived off and on through years of silence; The phrase means intermittently or occasionally; A poet can use it to show irregular rhythm or uncertain connection.
Additional Notes
Off and on means intermittently, irregularly, or from time to time. In poetry, it can describe rain, illness, love, friendship, memory, work, or recurring sadness. The phrase has a flickering quality, like a switch or light that never stays settled. Students should notice how it creates broken rhythm and uncertainty. It is useful for experiences that persist without continuity, returning just often enough to shape life.
Also Known As
intermittently
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