ENGLISH
REFERENCE

one-horse town

idiom
Meaning

A very small town, especially one of a rural nature and offering very few or no attractions.


Origin

first recorded 19th c.

The term “one-horse” originated as an agricultural phrase, meaning to be drawn or worked by a single horse. This led to the use of this phrase in a metaphorical sense as something that is small or insignificant. Charles Dickens explained in his publication All the Year Round (1871): ‘One horse’ is an agricultural phrase, applied to anything small or insignificant, or to any inconsiderable or contemptible person: as a ‘one-horse town,’ a ‘one-horse bank,’ a ‘one-horse hotel,’ a ‘one-horse lawyer’, etc.

Examples
SIMPLE

There is nothing to do in this one-horse town.

CONTEXTUAL

He grew up in a quiet one-horse town where everyone knew his family and there were no movie theaters.

COMPLEX

The traveler felt trapped in the desolate one-horse town, which offered little more than a dusty road and a single, silent general store.

Anchors to
Related idioms8entries
  1. 01

    big end of town

    The top end of town.

  2. 02

    blow town

    To suddenly leave one's residence.

  3. 03

    company town

    A town, city, or other municipality in which a single large business has a controlling influence over the economy and, sometimes, over the societal structure and the local government.

  4. 04

    go to town

    To proceed enthusiastically, vigorously, or expertly.

  5. 05

    go to town on

    To devour or consume (something); to enthusiastically or assiduously work on (something); to tear into (something).

  6. 06

    man about town

    A worldly, social man who frequents fashionable places.

  7. 07

    new kid in town

    Synonym of new kid on the block.

  8. 08

    one-horse race

    An election campaign or other competitive situation in which only one competitor is entered or in which only one competitor has a realistic chance of winning.

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