Phrase guide

don't give up your day job

phrase · 1 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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1

phrase

Meaning 1

Somewhat sarcastic but usually good-natured advice used to criticise a person's degree of talent (especially in music or other performing arts), implying that they are unlikely to be successful.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: humorous, idiomatic, often

Examples

  • When the accounting department's barbershop quartet was warming up, the sales team was ribbing them, yelling, "Don't give up your day job!"

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: don't quit your day job

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.