# don't give up your day job

idiom · CEFR B1

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/dont-give-up-your-day-job
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

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.

## Examples

- Your singing is okay, but don't give up your day job.
- You are a terrible cook, so please don't give up your day job.
- He is a bad actor who really should not give up his day job.
- After hearing his brother's terrible jokes, he laughed and told him not to give up his day job.
- My friend tried to fix his own car but ended up making the engine noise worse, so I told him not to give up his day job.
- She showed me the messy painting she made over the weekend and joked that she definitely shouldn't give up her day job yet.
- The judge told the nervous contestant that while her performance was enthusiastic, she definitely shouldn't give up her day job to pursue a career in professional dance.

## Origin

20th-century show-business put-down: advice to an aspiring performer that they're not good enough to quit their regular employment. (disputed)

---

From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.