one-trick pony

See also: one trick pony

English

Alternative forms

• one trick pony

Etymology

(This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium.)

Pronunciation

• Audio (AU)

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Noun

one-trick pony (plural one-trick ponies)

1. A performing animal (especially a pony) that knows only one trick.
2. (idiomatic, by extension) A person or group noteworthy for only a single achievement, skill, or characteristic.
   • 1980, Paul Simon (lyrics and music), “One-Trick Pony”:

     He's a one-trick pony / One trick is all that horse can do / He does one trick only / It's the principal source of his revenue

Derived terms

• one-trick-ponyism

Translations

animal

• Chinese:

  Mandarin: please add this translation if you can

• Finnish: yhden tempun osaava poni
• French: please add this translation if you can

person or group

• Chinese:

  Mandarin: please add this translation if you can

• Finnish: yksitaitoinen ihminen, yhden asian ihminen (person)
• French: please add this translation if you can
• Scottish Gaelic: pìobaire an aon phuirt m (literally “one-tune piper”)

See also

• one-hit wonder