day job

IPA/ˈdeɪ dʒɒb/
IPA/ˈdeɪ dʒɑːb/

day job — noun

1. A regular paid job that provides most of your income, especially when you also s

1.nounB1
Definition

A regular paid job that provides most of your income, especially when you also spend time on other work or activities that you enjoy more but that pay less.

Example

Emma works as a graphic designer for her day job and paints in the evenings.

pattern: 'one's day job' with role specification

Rania's day job at the hospital pays her bills while she records music on weekends.

possessive noun + day job + place

Common collocations
  • have a day job
  • keep one's day job
  • quit one's day job
  • work a day job
  • day job as [role]
Synonyms
Antonyms
  • side hustle

    a secondary job done for extra money, usually in addition to the day job

  • passion project

    work done for personal enjoyment rather than income

Grammar Patterns

possessor + day job

have/keep a day job

Usage Note

Often used in the plural form 'day jobs' when talking about groups of people. The fixed expression 'don't give up the day job' is a humorous warning, not a literal instruction.

Common Mistakes

I day job as a teacher.
My day job is teaching.
'day job' is a noun, not a verb; use it with a possessive or as a subject.
She works a day job waiter.
She works as a waiter for her day job.
'day job' modifies the person's situation, not the specific role.
Idioms

don't give up the day job

idiom

A humorous comment used to tell someone that their hobby or new skill is not good enough to earn them a living, so they should keep their regular job.

When Eitan showed his oil paintings at the family dinner, his uncle laughed and said, "Don't give up the day job, kid."

The vocal coach told Trang she had improved a lot, then added with a smile, "But don't give up the day job just yet."

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

All four terms refer to the regular paid work that covers a person's basic living costs. 'Day job' is the most neutral and widely understood; it often appears alongside a mention of a more creative or enjoyable secondary activity. 'Bread-and-butter job' is more informal and emphasises the basic survival function — the income that 'puts food on the table.' 'Main gig' is very informal, common in music, theatre, and freelance circles; it treats employment as one 'gig' among several. '9-to-5' focuses on the fixed office schedule and can carry a slightly negative tone of routine or boredom. In a sentence: 'She keeps her day job as a nurse while building her photography portfolio' could swap to 'She keeps her bread-and-butter job' (emphasising financial necessity) or 'Her main gig is nursing' (more informal) or 'She works a 9-to-5 as a nurse' (highlighting the regular hours).

day job ↗bread-and-butter jobmain gig9-to-5

Common collocations

Nouns

Phrases

  • have a day job
  • keep one's day job
  • quit one's day job
  • work a day job as [role]

Prepositions

  • in [one's] day job

Etymology

English

The compound noun 'day job' emerged in the early 1970s in American English, combining 'day' (daytime, regular hours) with 'job' (paid work). It originally highlighted the contrast between a routine daytime position and more glamorous or artistic evening work — especially in the entertainment industry. The humorous idiom 'don't give up the day job' appeared soon after, warning aspiring performers that their hobby was not yet profitable enough to replace their regular income.

First known use

1971

1971, in the meaning defined above