on-again off-again
Sometimes yes, sometimes no
On-again off-again describes something that repeatedly starts and stops, typically a relationship that cycles through breakups and reconciliations: Their on-again off-again romance lasted through college.
The phrase can apply to any intermittent situation—negotiations, projects, or habits: The on-again off-again peace talks finally produced an agreement.
- sporadicOccurring irregularly, infrequently
- intermittentOccurring at irregular intervals
- fluctuatingShifting irregularly over time
- erraticLacking regularity or consistency
- ambivalenceConflicting emotions coexisting
episodic · inconsistent · alternating · variable · recurring · it's complicated · uncertainty · estrangement · taking a break · discontinuous · fickle · on the rocks · reconciliation · back together · rekindled · irregular · cyclical · rollercoaster
- relationshipsfriends, romantic, family, friend, flirting
- romancelove story, amor, love, boyfriend, courting
- Celebrity Couplespower couple, royal couple, power couples, Bennifer, Brangelina
- exesex, ex-boyfriend, ex-girlfriend, ex-husband, ex-wife
consistency/stability
on-again off-againsteady
Fixed, not fluctuating
constant · consistent · stable · continuous · uninterrupted