day job

American  

noun

1. one's regular job and main source of income, usually viewed in contrast to a speculative or irregular endeavor.

   Good luck in the lottery, but don't quit your day job.

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Example Sentences

Despite his glamorous brush with fame, Ellis has not given up the day job, he is still in the driver's seat on a London Underground train.

From BBC

By 1995, success allowed him to give up his day job and focus on cartoons and writing books, including ”The Dilbert Principle,” “Reframe Your Brain: The User Interface for Happiness and Success” and “How to Fail at Almost Everything and Still Win Big: Kind of the Story of My Life.”

From The Wall Street Journal

The 28-year-old has gone from battling with the likes of Brennan Johnson and Yeremy Pino on Saturday to returning to his day job as a PE teacher at Stamford Park Primary School in Altrincham on Monday.

From BBC

"I'm absolutely shocked that these people during the course of their day job are getting abuse, they're simply trying to serve the city," said Councillor Trevor Muten, cabinet member for transport and city infrastructure.

From BBC

“So if you have a day job and a side hustle, you might well be maxing via your day job and can only contribute as an employer.”

From MarketWatch