# one-night stand

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/one-night-stand
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

A single sexual encounter between two individuals, where at least one of the partners has no immediate intention or expectation of establishing a longer-term sexual or romantic relationship.

## Examples

- They met at a party and had a one-night stand.
- He realized after their one-night stand that they had nothing in common and decided not to call her again.
- What began as a casual one-night stand eventually evolved into a complicated relationship, much to the surprise of both participants.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.