ENGLISH
REFERENCE

hustle

n. C / U
B2 Upper Intermediate US //ˈhəsəɫ// UK //hˈʌsəl// hus·tle Informal Slang

n. a busy way of working or living, or a clever way to make money. It often describes working very hard or having a side job to earn extra cash.

n. energetic, busy activity or a specific method of earning money, often through side jobs or entrepreneurial effort. In its more negative sense, it refers to a deceptive act or swindle.


SIMPLE

She has a side hustle selling handmade jewelry online.

CONTEXTUAL

The city is full of hustle and bustle, with everyone rushing to their next meeting.

COMPLEX

In today's gig economy, many young professionals maintain a secondary hustle to supplement their primary income and hedge against market volatility.

Synonyms
Origin

From Dutch husselen or by metathesis from Dutch hutselen (“to shake up”), a frequentative of hutsen (“to stir, to move something (back and forth)”).

Usage

Often used in the fixed phrase 'hustle and bustle' to describe a busy place. When referring to a side job, it is countable.

Idioms1 entry

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