on the side
Idioms-
In addition to the main portion of something; also, in addition to one's regular job. For example, He ordered some French fries on the side , or She often prepared tax returns on the side . [Second half of 1800s]
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
In the wake of Carruthers’ botched execution, a group of more than 40 doctors and nurses came down on the side of purity.
From Salon ● Oct. 3, 2026
That’s another misunderstanding: We were hawking game, as we like to make a little cash on the side selling rare meats.
From Slate ● Oct. 3, 2026
“Thus, the prices of gas, which you see posted on the side of the road almost every day, can have a stronger influence on how consumers view the rest of the economy overall.”
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 25, 2026
We’re hunkered down in a dark stairwell on the side of a hotel facing a busy street in Hollywood.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 18, 2026
“What about the sun on the side there, casting rays?”
From "The Boy Who Met a Whale" by Nizrana Farook
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
