on the side
50
3.9
- idiom
- Informal
:
como actividad secundaria
- - I really am a registered nurse... ...and I write a little on the side.
- work on the side
I just wanted to let you know that I am working on the side with different stuff, different cool stuff.
- I just wanted to let you know that I am working on the side with different stuff, different cool stuff.
- Some are coaches or admins and they're buying their own real estate on the side, building their own business.
- I had a shoe store online shoe business that I ran on the side and I was a labourer.
- But what I'm doing personally is I'm keeping money on the side just in case Tesla does end up crashing.
Examples
-
He runs a small graphic design business on the side while maintaining his full-time job.
-
You know, I still occasionally do that work on the side.
-
I just wanted to let you know that I am working on the side with different stuff, different cool stuff.
-
Yeah, well, I used to just do it on the side, but now...
-
- Well, I do a bit of writing on the side...
-
You want to be a writer, write a novel on the side, something your parents can show off on their credenza.
-
I had a shoe store online shoe business that I ran on the side and I was a labourer.
-
Many teachers offer tutoring services on the side to supplement their income.
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She writes freelance articles on the side to explore her passion for journalism.
Synonyms
30
6.1
To work at a second job in addition to your main job, often at night
14
4.9
A job or business someone does to earn extra money
1
3.7
A small job done in free time to earn extra money
Work you do besides your main paid work to earn extra money
A hobby or small job you do beside your main job
Happening or done outside your work duties
Antonyms
How Primary
Surface Forms
Morphology
The phrase literally combines the locative 'on' with 'side', so a learner who knows both words can infer a spatial/adjacent sense — i.e., something done 'beside' or 'in addition to' a main activity. However, the specific pragmatic meaning of an additional (often unofficial) job/activity and its adverbial use is somewhat idiomatic and requires familiarity with English usage, so it is not fully predictable.
Etymology
On the side comes from the simple image of doing something at the side of your main work, like a cook serving a sauce on the side so it is extra and separate. So on the side now means doing extra work beside your main job, often quietly or without official permission.