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one-horse town

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

Etymology:

  • The term "one-horse" originated as an agricultural phrase, meaning 'to be drawn/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 : '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',
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It's surrounded by beautiful wilderness, but otherwise it's just a one-horse town.

Submitted on July 10, 2018

Additional definitions for 'one-horse town':

one-horse townA very small town.
One-Horse TownA small town with limited facilities, a backward town, obscure town
See them all »

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    "one-horse town." Phrases.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 28 Mar. 2024. <https://www.phrases.com/phrase/one-horse-town_26213>.

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