one-man show

Idioms and Phrases

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]

Example Sentences

As a cultural corrective, Hayes is currently touring in a one-man show titled Riding the Midnight Express with Billy Hayes.

From The Daily Beast

He opens up about the bogus Midnight Express, Oliver Stone on blow, and his riveting one-man show.

From The Daily Beast

He next takes his one-man show to Dubai, followed by some dates in Europe.

From The Daily Beast

Unfortunately for Afghanistan, the country and the electoral process are both largely a one-man show.

From The Daily Beast

He had once put on a one-man show where he sang songs from 100 years of Broadway musicals.

From The Daily Beast

I shall have a one-man-show next season; and then there will be no more money troubles.

From Project Gutenberg

Of course I shall sell them next year fast enough, after my one-man-show; but while the grass grows the steed starves.

From Project Gutenberg

A miserable Gallery had refused to let that straight-haired genius have his one-man show after all.

From Project Gutenberg

To meet him you might almost think that Military Aeronautics was a one-man show.

From Project Gutenberg

They advised me to have a one-man show, late in the winter, so as to get publicity.

From Project Gutenberg