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one-man

one-man

40 3.9
Made for only one person to use or to perform a show
  • adjective
  • /ˈwʌnˌmæn/
translation icon : unipersonal
  • The artist presented a stunning series of paintings in his one-man exhibition at the gallery.
  • a one-man show
  • a one-man exhibition

Peter McKinnon hearing that's kind of kind of my thing, kind of a one man job.

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Examples

  • Our current accountant is in DH's group and runs a one-man shop with a couple of assistants.

    Blog text (13)
  • I remember years ago when I was just getting started and I was already running my own one man advertising agency.

  • Well, he had a one-man show in New York.

  • Turning himself into a one-man arts council, he established creative writing classes.

    Academic text (2012)
  • In 1809, he held a one-man show of his paintings at his brother's house.

    Academic text (1994)
  • She decided to run a one-man photography business after leaving her corporate job.

  • His project turned into a one-man operation when he couldn't find any collaborators.

Synonyms

single
vsone-man
1.0

For one person or thing, not shared with others

is limited to things intended for exactly a sole user or performer
one-person
vsone-man
58 3.3

A thing that only one person can use

is phrased to suggest a male person rather than neutral wording
one-woman
vsone-man
14 5.7

Only one woman takes part

is gender neutral and applies to a sole person regardless of sex

Antonyms

49 4.5

Made by several people or groups working together

groupwise
  • Specialized
6.7

In a way that divides people or things into small teams

How Many People

multiuser
  • Specialized
3.6
collaborative
49 4.5
one-man
40 3.9

Surface Forms

one-man positive

Morphology

one-man = one + man (transparent) = one + man

The meaning is directly composed from 'one' + 'man' (a single person), which B1 learners can readily interpret.

Etymology

One-man is made by putting one ('single') and man ('person') together, and it started as a way to say something for or done by just one person. So, one-man means 'for one person' or a show by a single performer, and today it often just means 'solo' even if the performer is not a man.