on-and-off
adjectiveUK /ˌɒn ən ˈɒf/
US /ˌɑːn ən ˈɔːf/
Something on-and-off starts and stops many times instead of going all the time.
The rain was on-and-off all afternoon, so we kept opening and closing the umbrella.
RELATED WORDS
OTHER MEANINGS
2. Happening for a while, then not happening, then happening again over a long time.
They had an on-and-off friendship for years.
3. A machine or device that switches between working and not working.
The old radio is on-and-off, so we never know if it will play.
4. Not steady or continuous in effort or attention.
His on-and-off practice made it hard to learn the song.