One And Done
A single elimination tournament
Example
I get so nervous watching one and done tourneys!
One and done definition by Slang.net - The Slang Dictionary
This page explains what the slang term "One and done" means. The definition, example, and related terms listed above have been manually compiled and written by the Slang.net team.
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One and done is a single-elimination tournament format, where a team gets just one chance: lose a game, and you are out. There's no second try, no double elimination; it's a win-or-go-home situation, especially in high-stakes competitions like March Madness. The term gained widespread popularity in the 1980s and '90s thanks to sports commentators and fans who used it to emphasize the unforgiving nature of these do-or-die games.
The phrase has since taken on a life of its own outside just tournament formats. It's now commonly used by players, coaches, sports analysts, and fans in reference to both team exits and individual performances, like a Cinderella team's quick exit or a top college athlete who plays one year before jumping to the pros.