one-trick pony
4
6.0
- noun
- /ˈwʌn trɪk ˈpoʊni/
- Offensive
:
persona de un solo truco
- I was able to show some different aspects and show that I'm not just a one-trick pony.
- one-trick pony," says
Examples
-
Mookie Triniad was always a one-trick pony.
Blog text (9) -
Many people think she is just a one-trick pony, but she has multiple skills that make her a valuable team member.
-
You are a one-trick pony these days.
Fiction book (1992) -
You know, you kind of tell him to stop being a one-trick pony and start working inside moves more.
Blog text (8) -
If we're still having this conversation about Nick being a one-trick pony two years from now, we may have legitimate cause for concern.
Blog text (18) -
I don't want you to think I am a one-trick pony, though.
Blog text (23) -
At the moment, he reminds me of a one-trick pony with his penchant for running.
Blog text (22) -
Other app stores are full of 99-cent apps, which leads to quite a few one-trick pony apps.
Blog text (17) -
Although he was known as a one-trick pony, he eventually surprised everyone by mastering new skills.
-
In the world of business, being labeled a one-trick pony can limit your opportunities for growth and collaboration.
Antonyms
How Versatile
2
9.1
- Informal
9
5.5
352
3.9
- Offensive
4
6.0
Surface Forms
Morphology
one-trick + pony
Literally the parts ('one' + 'trick' + 'pony') yield the image of a pony that can do a single trick, so a learner who knows the words can infer a sense of limited ability. However, the expression is a metaphorical idiom used to describe people or things and relies on cultural/pragmatic mapping, so the exact figurative use and nuance may not be fully predictable without prior exposure.
Etymology
One-trick pony may come from old circus shows where a small horse called a pony learned just one trick to amuse the crowd. So, because the animal had only one skill, the phrase now means 'a person or thing with only one talent'.