one-on-one

English

Adjective

one-on-one (comparative more one-on-one, superlative most one-on-one)

1. (chiefly North America) Involving direct communication between two people.
2. (sports) involving one attacker and one defender
   • 2011 September 24, David Ornstein, “Arsenal 3 - 0 Bolton”, BBC Sport:

     After several near misses, Van Persie finally reached three figures by turning in Walcott's cross before Jaaskelainen saved from Walcott when one-on-one.

3. (mathematics) bijective or injective

Synonyms

• one-to-one (British)

Noun

one-on-one (plural one-on-ones)

1. A contest involving only one player on each side, especially of an activity often involving teams.

   Why don't we play a little one-on-one until the others show up.

   He was willing to go one-on-one with the District Attorney himself.

Synonyms

• (contest between two people): triple O

See also

• face-to-face
• man-to-man