don't give up the day job

A form of don't give up your day job — 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.

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Meanings

phrase
  1. alternativeAlternative form of don't give up your day job.
Cite this entry
APA

don't give up the day job. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/don't%20give%20up%20the%20day%20job

MLA

“don't give up the day job.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/don't%20give%20up%20the%20day%20job. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “don't give up the day job,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/don't%20give%20up%20the%20day%20job.

Source: don't give up the day job on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.