pony
gb/pˈoʊni/ us/pˈoʊni/
A2
English
~ 5900
Senses
0 senses
Noun
A2
entity
1
A small type of horse
A small kind of horse that is shorter than normal horses.
Usage pattern:
ride a pony; a [adjective] pony
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes think a pony is a baby horse. A baby horse is called a foal. A pony is a small adult horse, not a young horse.
Synonyms
small horse (A descriptive phrase, not a fixed animal term; slightly more general than the specific category ‘pony’.)
|
cob (A type of sturdy, short horse; overlaps with some ponies but is more technical and breed-specific.)
Antonyms
draft horse (Refers to a large, heavy horse used for hard work, contrasting with the small size typically associated with ponies.)
Collocations
ride a pony
|pony ride
|Shetland pony
|pony club
|pony trekking
|show pony
Themes
animals
|sports
|daily life
Examples
- The children lined up to take turns on the small brown pony.
- She learned to ride on a gentle Shetland pony when she was five.
- They went pony trekking in the hills during their holiday.
- His daughter begged him for a pony for her birthday.
- The show pony trotted proudly around the ring.
Learner examples
- The girl is riding a white pony.
- My friend has a pony on her farm.
- We went to the park and had a pony ride.
- The pony is small but very strong.
- He wants to learn to ride a pony.
Noun
informal
B1
entity
2
Ponytail hairstyle (short form)
An informal word for a ponytail, when long hair is tied together at the back of the head.
Usage pattern:
wear a pony; put [hair] in a pony
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes think ‘pony’ always means the animal. In fashion or hair contexts, especially in speech, ‘pony’ often means ‘ponytail’. The animal meaning is not used here.
Synonyms
ponytail (Standard, slightly more formal term; ‘pony’ is a casual short form.)
Antonyms
wear your hair down (Describes hair left loose instead of tied back in a pony.)
Collocations
wear a pony
|high pony
|low pony
|put your hair in a pony
|slicked-back pony
Themes
fashion
|daily life
|daily_life
|body
Examples
- She pulled her hair into a high pony before going for a run.
- On hot days I usually wear a messy pony to keep my hair off my neck.
- The stylist suggested a sleek pony for a more polished look.
- He tied his long hair back in a low pony for work.
- I need an extra hair tie; my pony keeps falling out.
Learner examples
- She wears her hair in a pony.
- I put my hair in a pony when it is hot.
- Her high pony looks very neat.
- This pony is too tight and hurts my head.
- He makes a small pony with his long hair.
Noun
B2
quantity
3
Small measure of alcohol
A small fixed amount of alcohol, for example a small glass of liqueur or a small beer.
Usage pattern:
a pony of [alcoholic drink]
Common mistake:
Learners may think ‘pony’ always means the animal. In a bar or drink recipe, ‘pony’ can mean a small measure of alcohol. Context (bar, drink, recipe) is important.
Synonyms
shot (Very common informal term for a small serving of strong alcohol; often slightly larger or less precise than a traditional ‘pony’ measure.)
Antonyms
double (A serving that is twice the usual single measure, contrasting with a relatively small measure like a pony.)
Collocations
a pony of brandy
|pony glass
|a pony of beer
|a pony of liqueur
Themes
food and drink
|nightlife
|food_drink
Examples
- He asked for a pony of brandy to finish his meal.
- The cocktail recipe calls for one pony of gin and half a pony of vermouth.
- She ordered a pony of beer because she didn’t want a full pint.
- The liqueur came in a tiny pony glass after dessert.
- He poured himself a quick pony before heading out.
Learner examples
- He drank a small pony of whisky.
- She ordered a pony of beer, not a big glass.
- The recipe needs one pony of rum.
- They served the sweet drink in a pony glass.
- I only want a pony, not a full drink.
Noun
slang
C1
quantity
4
£25 in British slang
In British slang, a ‘pony’ means twenty-five pounds.
Usage pattern:
a pony; owe [someone] a pony
Common mistake:
Learners may misunderstand this slang and think it refers to the animal. In money or gambling talk in the UK, ‘a pony’ can mean £25. It is informal and not used in formal writing.
Synonyms
twenty-five quid (Informal British phrase that says the same amount directly, without slang substitution.)
Antonyms
nothing (Represents having no money, the opposite of having a sum such as a pony (£25).)
Collocations
a pony on the game
|owe you a pony
|borrow a pony
|lose a pony
Themes
money
|slang
|finance
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- He put a pony on the horse and doubled his money.
- I still owe him a pony from last weekend.
- Tickets are going for about a pony each.
- Can you lend me a pony until payday?
- She won a pony on the scratch card.
Learner examples
- In London slang, a pony means twenty-five pounds.
- He lost a pony on the football game.
- My friend lent me a pony yesterday.
- She says the bag cost her a pony.
- They won a pony on a bet.
Verb
technical
C1
action
5
Lead a horse from another
To ride one horse and at the same time lead another horse with a rope or rein.
Usage pattern:
to pony [a horse]
Common mistake:
Learners may think ‘pony’ as a verb means ‘to ride a pony’. In horse-training language, it means to ride one horse while leading another at the same time.
Synonyms
lead (a horse) (General verb for guiding a horse; does not specifically include the idea of being mounted on another horse.)
Antonyms
turn out (To release a horse into a field rather than leading and controlling it while mounted.)
Collocations
pony a horse
|pony young horses
|pony racehorses
|pony yearlings
Themes
animals
|sports
Examples
- The trainer ponied the nervous colt alongside a calm mare.
- She spends her mornings ponying racehorses on the track.
- They ponied the young horses down to the arena.
- He prefers to pony the new gelding until it gets used to the surroundings.
- The wrangler ponied two pack horses back to camp.
Learner examples
- The trainer ponied the young horse around the track.
- She learned how to pony a horse safely.
- They pony the racehorses every morning.
- He will pony the new horse to the stable.
- The rider ponied one horse while he sat on another.
Noun
informal
C2
entity
6
Crib or translation aid
An informal word for a paper or book that gives answers or translations to help you study, sometimes in a way that teachers do not allow.
Usage pattern:
use a pony; a Latin pony
Common mistake:
Learners may not know this meaning and think only of the animal. In school or exam contexts, especially in older texts, ‘pony’ can mean a translation or answer book used for help or cheating.
Synonyms
crib (Standard term in British English for notes or a translation used for help or cheating; ‘pony’ is older and more slangy.)
Antonyms
original work (Work done without relying on a translation or answer key, opposite to using a pony.)
Collocations
use a pony
|Latin pony
|exam pony
|crib pony
Themes
education
|slang
Examples
- He got through Latin class by using a well-worn pony.
- The teacher warned that anyone caught with a pony during the exam would fail.
- She bought a pony of the text to help her with the difficult passages.
- In the past, students often shared ponies instead of doing their own translations.
- The old pony was full of handwritten notes in the margins.
Learner examples
- He used a pony to pass the test.
- The book is a pony with all the answers.
- The teacher does not allow ponies in the exam room.
- She bought a Latin pony to help her study.
- They shared a small pony with translations.
Noun
informal
C1
entity
7
1960s dance called the Pony
The name of an old dance from the 1960s where people move like they are riding a horse.
Usage pattern:
do the Pony; dance the Pony
Common mistake:
Learners may think this always means the animal. In a music or dance context, especially with phrases like ‘do the Pony’, it refers to a dance.
Synonyms
pony dance (A more explicit phrase naming the same dance; slightly clearer for learners.)
Antonyms
slow waltz (A contrasting dance style that is slow and smooth, unlike the bouncy Pony.)
Collocations
do the Pony
|dance the Pony
|learn the Pony
|1960s Pony dance
Themes
music
|dance
|arts_entertainment
Examples
- Everyone hit the dance floor to do the Pony when the old song came on.
- In the movie, the teenagers dance the Pony at the school party.
- The choreographer added a section inspired by the 1960s Pony.
- She taught her kids how to do the Pony for a retro-themed show.
- The Pony was one of many novelty dances of that era.
Learner examples
- They dance the Pony in the old film.
- He learned how to do the Pony.
- The DJ plays a song and people do the Pony.
- The Pony was a popular dance in the 1960s.
- She likes to teach the Pony at dance class.
Grammar
Dictionary form
pony
IPA
GB/pˈoʊni/
US/pˈoʊni/
Syllables & stress
pony (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (pony)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: pony
- Plural: ponies
Word family
Forms
ponies
noun
Related words
horse
noun A1
ponytail
noun
Expressions
dog and pony show
1/dˈɔɡ ˈænd pˈoʊni ʃˈoʊ/
idiom
informal
Overly showy presentation or event
A show, event, or presentation that is made very big and fancy to impress people, but often does not give much real or useful information.
Examples
- The product launch felt like a dog and pony show with lots of lights but few details.
- Employees were tired of the yearly dog and pony show from top management.
- We don’t need a dog and pony show; we just want clear facts.
pony club
1/pˈoʊni klˈʌb/
fixed phrase
Children’s pony-riding organization
A club, often for children, where they learn how to ride ponies and how to look after them.
Examples
- She spends every Saturday morning at pony club.
- The local pony club organizes small competitions for young riders.
- Joining a pony club is a good way for kids to learn about horses.
pony ride
1/pˈoʊni ɹˈaɪd/
fixed phrase
Short fun ride on a pony
A short, slow ride on a pony, usually for children at a park, fair, or party.
Examples
- The kids begged for a pony ride at the fair.
- They hired a small farm to give pony rides at the birthday party.
- Each pony ride lasts about five minutes around the field.
pony trekking
1/pˈoʊni tɹˈɛkɪŋ/
fixed phrase
Leisure riding of ponies outside
A holiday or day trip activity where people ride ponies through the countryside, often in a group.
Examples
- They went pony trekking in the mountains during their vacation.
- Pony trekking is popular with tourists who want to see the countryside slowly.
- The farm offers guided pony trekking for beginners.
pony up
1/pˈoʊni ˈʌp/
phrasal verb
informal
Pay money you owe
To pay money that you owe or that people expect you to pay.
Examples
- It’s time to pony up and pay your share of the bill.
- They finally ponied up the rent after several reminders.
- If everyone ponies up ten dollars, we can buy a nice gift.
show pony
1/ʃˈoʊ pˈoʊni/
idiom
informal
Person valued mainly for looks
Someone or something that is used to look good or to impress others, but is not respected for real work or ability.
Examples
- He didn’t want to be just a show pony for the company’s marketing campaigns.
- Some felt the new manager was a show pony chosen for image, not experience.
- The project became a political show pony rather than a serious plan.
one-trick pony
1/wˈʌn tɹˈɪk pˈoʊni/
idiom
informal
Person or thing with one skill
A person or thing that is good at only one thing, or is known for only one success.
Examples
- Critics say the band is a one-trick pony that keeps repeating the same sound.
- Some people thought the band was a one-trick pony, but their second album proved them wrong.
- He doesn’t want to be a one-trick pony, so he’s learning new skills.
- He’s not just a one-trick pony; he can play many different roles.
- The app was successful, but the company can’t rely on that one-trick pony forever.
- If you learn other skills, you won’t be a one-trick pony at work.