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sideline

sideline

14 4.9
A job or business someone does to earn extra money
  • noun
  • /ˈsaɪdˌlaɪn/
translation icon : actividad secundaria
  • A lot of guys took on teaching music as a sideline.

And you're right, it is kind of a sideline at the time.

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Examples

  • I then slowly built this sideline into an income that would help me ditch SEO for good.

    Blog text (30)
  • Eight years ago, Chris Smith diversified his landscaping operations by launching a sideline business, Land and Sea Compost Company.

    Academic text (1999)
  • I only deal in art as a sideline.

  • Or an agent with a profitable sideline in information.

  • Do you ever think about consulting as a sideline?

  • For these well-known artists, most of whom are self-taught, sign painting is a sideline.

    Academic text (1995)
  • Many people pursue a writing blog as a sideline to their full-time jobs, generating extra income.

  • After work, she runs a small catering business as a sideline to her regular job.

  • His love for photography became a sideline that allowed him to sell prints online.

Synonyms

avocation
vssideline
5 7.9

A hobby you do for pleasure besides your main job

is aimed more at earning extra income rather than pure enjoyment
side gig
vssideline
  • Informal
1 3.7

A small job done in free time to earn extra money

is a broader additional activity that can be a business beyond casual jobs
outside job
vssideline
3.9

Work you do besides your main paid work to earn extra money

is broader including nonjob activities as well as extra work
sideline interest
vssideline
4.0

A hobby or small job you do beside your main job

is focused more on earning extra income than on enjoyment

Compounds

A hobby or small job you do beside your main job

How Major

sideline
14 4.9
side gig
  • Informal
1 3.7
hobby
297 1.0

Surface Forms

sideline singular
sidelines plural

Morphology

sideline = side + line (semi-transparent) = side + line

This sense is a metaphorical extension from the spatial/sports meaning (an activity at the 'side' of someone's main work), so the link to the components is indirect.

Etymology

A helpful way to remember sideline for an extra job is to break it into side ('beside') and line — a job that sits 'beside' your main work. So a sideline is an activity you do in addition to your main job.