single-handed
single-handed — adjective
1. done by a person who works completely alone, receiving no support or help from o
done by a person who works completely alone, receiving no support or help from other people
Eitan built the entire bookshelf single-handed over the weekend.
predicative use after the noun
Saira ran her own café single-handed for more than ten years.
single-handed after a verb phrase
Christopher managed to repair his motorbike single-handed in the garage.
The old farmer worked the land single-handed after his sons moved to the city.
- unaided
more formal, often used in technical or medical contexts
- solo
common in music, sports, and aviation; suggests performance rather than work
- unassisted
neutral in register; common in sports statistics and medical records
- assisted
the direct opposite; implies receiving help
- collaborative
suggests teamwork and shared effort
用法筆記
Unlike 'alone', which can describe a temporary physical state, 'single-handed' emphasises the complete absence of assistance throughout an entire task.
常見錯誤
single-handed — adverb
1. in a way that involves acting completely on your own, without any help or partic
in a way that involves acting completely on your own, without any help or participation from others
Liang single-handed organized the entire school festival this year.
adverb before the verb
The shopkeeper single-handed lifted the heavy wooden crate off the truck.
A team of five people could not have moved that piano single-handed.
The gardener single-handed planted over fifty rose bushes in one afternoon.
- single-handedly
the more common adverbial form; interchangeable in most contexts
- alone
broader meaning; can describe physical solitude rather than lack of help
- together
implies joint action by multiple people
用法筆記
The adverb form 'single-handedly' is more common in modern writing, especially in American English. 'Single-handed' as an adverb is slightly more frequent in British English.