one-off

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English

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Etymology

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Fromone+‎off.Probably from foundry work, for which making reusable molds is expensive and expediency the rule for molds not to be used only once.

A term long used by artists who are printmakers and sculptors to indicate a unique print or casting. If using traditional edition numbering, a one-off would be a "1/1", which is said, "one of one" meaning the first print in an edition of one.

Pronunciation

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Adjective

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one-off(comparativemoreone-off,superlativemostone-off)

  1. Occurringonce,independentof anypattern;one-time.
    The government insisted that the embarrassing loss of the tax records was aone-offevent.
    Seeing Halley's Comet is aone-off,once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
    • 1905,Foundry,volume50,page198:
      If such a casting was wanted in a hurry — aone-offjob — there would be no question of molding it on a machine.
    • 2006September 1, EIU Country Analysis,Malta: Country outlook:
      Moreover, given that recent measures to cut the deficit have been moreone-offthan of a structural fiscal nature, meeting this debt target is likely only
    • 2015May 6, Colin O'Carroll, “Fermanagh woman thought registering a royal baby was a one-off honour... now Princess Charlotte has come along she's done it twice”, inBelfast Telegraph‎[1],retrieved2015-05-14:
      A County Fermanagh woman has officiated at the formal registration of the birth of Princess Charlotte at Kensington Palace. It's the second time she's been on royal baby duty at the palace as she previously officiated at the registration of Prince George. She said at the time that it was a"one-off"honour, but that has now been disproved with a repeat visit for Princess Charlotte.
    • 2020December 16, “Network News:" Robust case "for Fawley branch line reopening”, inRail,page14:
      In July, South Western Railway and Network Rail ran aone-offClass 159 toFawley,to demonstrate the line's viability. [...] A second 'fact-finding' trial passenger train forDfTofficials is now proposed.
  2. Singular;unique;special;remarkable.
    • 2015May 13, Hunter Skipworth, “BMW to create one-off tribute to 3.0 CSL”, inEvo‎[2],retrieved2015-05-14:
      BMW is to create aone-offtribute to the iconic 3.0 CSL.
    • 2024July 25, Chinomso Sunday, “Celine Dion to Earn $2 Million for Olympic Ceremony Song”, innewscentral.africa‎[3]:
      Grammy award-winning singer Celine Dion will reportedly earn $2 million for aone-offperformance at the 2024 Olympics.

Usage notes

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  • Much more common outside US. Relative usage frequency 5% (COCAversusBNC).

Synonyms

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Translations

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Noun

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one-off(pluralone-offs)

  1. (idiomatic,Commonwealth)Something that is done, created, etc. onlyonce,and oftenquickly,simply,orimprovisationally.
    I'll put together a quickone-offas a sample so we can taste the recipe.
  2. Something unique and remarkable.
    It is aone-off;there is nothing else like it.
    • 2017,David Walliams[pseudonym; David Edward Williams],Bad Dad,London:HarperCollins Children’s Books,→ISBN:
      Frank couldn’t believe that his father had put Queenie back together and not told him. More secrets. More lies. The boy guessed that the coat of yellow paint was to disguise her. Queenie was aone-off.A Mini with a Union Jack painted on her would be a dead giveaway to the police.

Translations

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See also

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References

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