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pony

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a one-trick pony

A person, group, or thing that is known for or limited to only one unique or noteworthy skill, talent, ability, quality, area of success, etc. The app developers took the world by storm with an incredibly addictive game for smartphones, but they've really been seen as just a one-trick pony ever since that breakthrough success. As most readers suspected, the famed fantasy writer turned out to be a bit of a one-trick pony, genre-wise, with his debut novel in literary fiction being universally panned by critics.

See also: pony

shank's pony

One's legs and feet, used for walking; travel by foot. Also "shanks' pony." A reference to the shank—the lower leg between the knee and the ankle—and the use of ponies or horses for travel. My bicycle fell apart three miles away from home, so I had to use shank's pony to go the rest of the way. Unfortunately, with the sedentary lifestyle many lead today, shank's pony has largely become an obsolete mode of travel.

See also: pony

dog and pony show

An elaborately organized event used mainly for promotion or to drive sales. The car dealership had quite the dog and pony show this weekend in an attempt to sell their old inventory. To help draw attention to the company's new line of products, the manager took their dog and pony show on the road for a nationwide promotion.

See also: and, dog, pony, show

dog and pony show

Fig. a display, demonstration, or exhibition of something-such as something one is selling. (As in a circus act where trained dogs leap onto and off of trained ponies.) Gary went into his standard dog and pony show, trying to sell us on an upgrade to our software. Don't you get tired of running through the same old dog and pony show at every trade show?

See also: and, dog, pony, show

play the ponies

 and play the horses

to wager on horse races. I used to play the ponies every afteroon during the summer. Then Iran out of money.

See also: play, pony

pony up (something)

to pay money The price of gas increased and homeowners had to pony up more than anyone expected this winter.

Related vocabulary: come up with something

See also: pony, up

a dog and pony show

  (American)

a show or other event that has been organized in order to get people's support or to persuade them to buy something The film is part of the dog and pony show the company puts on for the benefit of foreign journalists.

See also: and, dog, pony, show

Shanks's pony

  (British, American & Australian old-fashioned) also Shank's mare (American old-fashioned)

walking as a method of travel I missed the last bus and had to get home on Shanks's pony.

See also: pony

dog-and-pony show

An elaborate presentation to gain approval for a product or policy. For example, The administration loved putting on a dog-and-pony show for every minor change of policy . This term alludes to a traveling variety show. [1950s]

See also: show

pony up

Pay money that is owed or due, as in Come on, it's time you ponied up this month's rent. The allusion in this expression is unclear. [c. 1820]

See also: pony, up

pony up

v. Slang

To pay some amount of money that is owed or due: I had to pony up $6 for a hot dog at the airport. The star was charging $100 for an autograph, but fans gladly ponied it up. You said you'd repay me last week, so pony up!

See also: pony, up

baloney pony

n. the penis. (Contrived for the sake of the rhyme.) All he could think about was riding the old baloney pony.

See also: baloney, pony

dog and pony show

n. a demonstration; a speech, skit, or other presentation that is presented often. Willy was there with his dog and pony show about water safety.

See also: and, dog, pony, show

pony up

Pay the money. “Pony” has nothing to do with small equines—it comes from pone, the Latin word for “put” (so does the Spanish verb poner). Therefore, if you owe someone money, you'd better pony up.

See also: pony, up