a woman without a man is like a fish without a bicycle

In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.

Meaning · English

A woman is capable of living a complete and independent life without a man.

Register: humorous

Where it’s used: Used American English

Examples

We found this anonymous contribution to International Women's Year on a wall at Forest Lodge: "A woman without a man is like a fish without a bicycle."

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).

Common questions

What does “a woman without a man is like a fish without a bicycle” mean?

A woman is capable of living a complete and independent life without a man.

Is “a woman without a man is like a fish without a bicycle” formal or informal?

a woman without a man is like a fish without a bicycle is generally humorous.