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

The scene was Coventry, 1983, where her father was performing a one-man show.

From BBC • Mar. 28, 2026

And he reveals that, when Joey’s acting career failed to take off, he planned a one-man show for himself.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 13, 2026

He will mark the second anniversary of his residency at North Hollywood’s El Portal Theatre Sunday by performing his one-man show “Unassisted Living.”

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 23, 2025

The actor went on to star in The Woman In Black and Lunch With Marlene, and his one-man show Macready! played in 65 countries.

From BBC • Jul. 10, 2025

He was preparing a group of these pieces for a one-man show when he heard about the party and he instantly abandoned his own work and began a giant pincushion for Doc.

From "Cannery Row" by John Steinbeck