en English es español fr française it italiano de deutsche ja 日本語 pl polski cs česky sv svenska tr Türkçe nl Nederlands

Explaining "When you have seen one, you have seen them all"

Reviewed and edited by Anwar Kareem 17/10/2024, 08:51
English.me team member

What does it mean?

When you have seen one, you have seen them all

The phrase means that once you have seen one example of something, you feel as though you've seen all examples of it, suggesting a lack of variety or notable difference among them.

Tone

Dismissive

Origin

The exact origin of the phrase is unclear. It is a colloquial expression that likely developed over time to convey a sense of monotony when experiencing something repeatedly similar. The earliest recorded usage dates back to around 1811.

Examples of usage

  • After visiting multiple chain hotels, John said, "When you have seen one, you have seen them all, because they all looked exactly the same."
  • Sarah wasn't impressed with the series of paintings, remarking, "When you have seen one, you have seen them all; they're all just variations of the same theme."

Recommended posts in Phrases

The bigger they are, the harder they fall

The bigger they are, the harder they fall

The phrase means that the more powerful or bigger someone ... Learn more →

Hope springs eternal

Hope springs eternal

The phrase "Hope springs eternal" means that people will always ... Learn more →

Hands down

Hands down

An expression meaning "easily" or "without a doubt", often used ... Learn more →

Let the punishment fit the crime

Let the punishment fit the crime

The phrase means that the severity of the punishment should ... Learn more →