one person down

USAGE SUMMARY

"one person down" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It is often used to describe a situation where someone is missing or absent from a group. Example: "Our team was supposed to have ten members, but we're one person down because Sarah called in sick today."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

8 human-written examples

"You see hundreds of people watching a basketball game there and not one person down on the beach," he said.

The New York Times

"And not one person down below acted differently...More than 1000+ people would have seen it and acted with surprise, but nobody did.

Huffington Post

Khatri says her colleagues are supportive, but "I think people probably worry a little that the team is one person down and what resources are there to cover it?" Browning, a physicist, advises women who may be the only one pregnant to "team up with women in other departments" for support.

Science Magazine

by Sharon Levy Dawn awoke and rose one person down that day.

The New Yorker

And I could not pin any one person down for having a linear responsibility for the overall network.

Forbes

He looked in a basement window and could see at least one person down.

Vice

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

52 human-written examples

"Once one person goes down, we all go down," said Bell-Jeff setter Amanda Maalouf, who led her team with 38 assists.

Los Angeles Times

"We do what we can, but sometimes we do get down, so when one person's down, that's when we try to pick everyone up". Holy Family surged off to another strong start in the clincher, leading, 13-4, eandy and finishing off the stanza with a double-digit margin of victory.

Los Angeles Times

As soon as one person touches down, the next one can begin to descend.

The New York Times - Magazine

One person shut down her account because she disliked how nosy it made her.

The New York Times - Magazine

"First one person went down and then it was like domino pieces," a witness, Juan José Rosales, told the newspaper El Universal.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "one person down" to clearly and concisely indicate the absence of an individual from a team, group, or workforce. This phrasing is easily understood in both formal and informal contexts.

Common error

Avoid using "one person down" when the absence has a negligible impact. Reserve it for situations where the missing individual significantly affects operations or team dynamics.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "one person down" functions primarily as a descriptive phrase, often acting as an adjective modifying a noun (e.g., "the team is one person down"). Ludwig AI confirms its correctness in written English and its use to describe a situation where someone is missing.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

20%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Academia

5%

Encyclopedias

2%

Wiki

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "one person down" is a common and grammatically sound expression used to describe a situation where an individual is absent from a group or team. As Ludwig AI highlights, this phrase is often used in contexts where the absence impacts operations or team dynamics. While generally neutral, the register leans towards informal, with more formal alternatives available for strict professional settings. Given its consistent usage across reputable news sources and academic articles, "one person down" is a reliable and easily understood way to convey this specific type of absence.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

down a member

A shorter, more casual way of saying "missing a team member".

a man short

An older, gender-specific version of "down a member".

missing a team member

Emphasizes the absence of an individual from a team.

one short

Indicates a lack of one person to reach the desired number.

lacking someone

A general way of expressing the absence of a person from a group or situation.

staff shortage

Focuses on the general condition of having fewer employees than needed, rather than specifying a single absence.

personnel shortage

A more formal way of saying "staff shortage", indicating a lack of available employees.

understaffed

Describes a situation where there are not enough people to complete the necessary tasks.

reduced workforce

Highlights a decrease in the number of employees, often due to layoffs or attrition.

depleted ranks

Suggests that the number of people available is significantly lower than it should be.

FAQs

How can I use "one person down" in a sentence?

You can use "one person down" to describe a situation where a team or group is missing a member, such as, "We're "one person down" today because of illness".

What does it mean to be "one person down"?

Being "one person down" means that a team, group, or organization is currently operating with one fewer member than usual. It suggests that someone is absent, creating a potential gap or disadvantage.

Are there any alternatives to saying "one person down"?

Yes, you can use phrases like "down a member", "staff shortage", or "understaffed" depending on the context.

Is "one person down" formal or informal?

"One person down" is generally considered to be a neutral phrase that can be used in both formal and informal settings. However, more formal alternatives like "personnel shortage" might be preferred in very formal contexts.