one-trick pony

noun

A performing animal (especially a pony) that knows only one trick.

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Meanings

nounone-trick pony (plural one-trick ponies)

plural one-trick ponies · alternative one trick pony

  1. A performing animal (especially a pony) that knows only one trick.
  2. broadlyidiomaticA person or group noteworthy for only a single achievement, skill, or characteristic.

    He's a one-trick pony / One trick is all that horse can do / He does one trick only / It's the principal source of his revenue

    1980, Paul Simon, “One-Trick Pony”

Synonyms & antonyms

Also see
nine-day wonder

Translations

Chinese Mandarin 只會一招的動物 /只会一招的动物, 一招鮮 /一招鲜
  • 只會一招的動物 /只会一招的动物 (zhǐ huì yī zhāo de dòngwù)animal
  • 一招鮮 /一招鲜person or group
Finnish yhden tempun osaava poni, yksitaitoinen ihminen
  • yhden tempun osaava ponianimal
  • yksitaitoinen ihminenperson or group
  • yhden asian ihminenperson or group
Polish zwierzę znające tylko jedną sztuczkę, osoba dobra w tylko jednej rzeczy
  • zwierzę znające tylko jedną sztuczkęanimal
  • osoba dobra w tylko jednej rzeczyperson or group
Scottish Gaelic pìobaire an aon phuirt
  • pìobaire an aon phuirtperson or group
Spanish caballo de un solo truco
  • caballo de un solo trucoperson or group
Cite this entry
APA

one-trick pony. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/one-trick%20pony

MLA

“one-trick pony.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/one-trick%20pony. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “one-trick pony,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/one-trick%20pony.

Source: one-trick pony on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.