one-man show

Idioms  

1. Also, one-man band. A person who does or manages just about everything, as in This department is a one-man show—the chairman runs it all, or John conducts the interviews, writes the articles, solicits ads, deals with the printer—he's a one-man band. This idiom alludes to the actor or artist responsible for the entire performance or exhibit, or the musician who plays every instrument in the group. [First half of 1900s]

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

one-man show

This was a one-man show performed in two costumes.

From Slate ● Aug. 10, 2026

But before the evening turned into a full-blown World Cup epic, it looked like a one-man show.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 6, 2026

Yes, there is also Argentina, which faces tiny Cape Verde on Friday—though La Albiceleste’s campaign has largely been the Leo Messi one-man show.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 1, 2026

A strong family connection runs throughout the play, as the one-man show is also performed by Aoibh's brother, Rónán Johnson.

From BBC ● Apr. 9, 2026

Someday Ml have a poetry reading and a one-man show at the Nuyorican Poets Cafe on the Lower East Side.

From "Bronx Masquerade" by Nikki Grimes