go off on one
In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.
Meaning · English
To launch into an animated diatribe, or passionate description or explanation of something.
Register: colloquial
Examples
I barely mentioned the band's name before he went off on one about how commercial the top forty is these days.
Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30)
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).
Common questions
What does “go off on one” mean?
To launch into an animated diatribe, or passionate description or explanation of something.
Is “go off on one” formal or informal?
go off on one is generally colloquial.