one-way street

Meaning

A one-way street is a road where vehicles are legally allowed to travel in only one direction. It is marked with arrows and 'One Way' signs to prevent head-on traffic. Metaphorically, it can also describe a situation where only one party makes an effort or receives a benefit.

Examples

• I accidentally turned down a one-way street going the wrong way, and everyone honked at me.

  I accidentally turned down a one-way street going the wrong way, and everyone honked at me.

• Driving in the historic city center is difficult because of all the narrow one-way streets.

  Driving in the historic city center is difficult because of all the narrow one-way streets.

• Make sure you check the map; that road is a one-way street heading north.

  Make sure you check the map; that road is a one-way street heading north.

• Our relationship shouldn't be a one-way street; we both need to put in some effort.

  Our relationship shouldn't be a one-way street; we both need to put in some effort.

• The GPS directed us to turn left, but it was a one-way street and we couldn't.

  The GPS directed us to turn left, but it was a one-way street and we couldn't.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ Don't drive there, it's a unique direction street.

  ✓ Don't drive there, it's a one-way street.

  Unique direction is a literal translation from other languages. The correct English term is one-way street.

• ✗ This road is only one way.

  ✓ This is a one-way street.

  While one way is understood, one-way street or one-way road is the natural, complete noun phrase when referring to the physical street.

Related Expressions

Practice

• Be careful not to turn left there; it's a ___.

  💡 A road where cars can only drive in one direction.

  Show answer

  one-way street

• A healthy friendship is never a ___; both people must care.

  💡 Can be used metaphorically for one-sided efforts.

  Show answer

  one-way street