one-hit wonder

plural one-hit wonders · alternative one hit wonder

1. idiomaticA recording artist known for only one hit song, especially after failing at subsequent attempts at success.

   Eleven years ago, Arrested Development became one of Southern hip-hop's first crossover successes with “Tennessee,” a wistful, bohemian-influenced song about the scars of history. But the group was a one-hit wonder.

   2003 September 21, Jon Caramanica, “Music: When Rap Sounds Anything but Urban”, in The New York Times, archived from the original on 31 Jul 2019, retrieved 03 Aug 2009

   1. broadlyidiomaticThe hit song itself, rather than the musical artist.
2. broadlyidiomaticA person or group known for achieving only a single major accomplishment.

   The European company is no one-hit wonder. The company has another best seller in its J-class car, sold as a Vauxhall Cavalier.

   1990 February 19, S. C. Gwynne, “Two Sides of a Giant”, in TIME, archived from the original on 15 Dec 2008

3. slangmarijuana subcultureAn instance of achieving a high from the first hit.