# one-man band

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/one-man-band
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

An organisation or business that is effectively run by only one person.

## Examples

- He runs his small shop as a one-man band.
- Because he lacks the budget for staff, he operates his graphic design studio as a one-man band.
- The entrepreneur managed the entire production, marketing, and distribution process alone, functioning effectively as a one-man band for the first three years of the company.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.