leisure
a busman's holiday
slang A vacation in which one does an activity that is similar to one's job (as in the case of a bus driver, or "busman," who drives on his vacation). Because I'm a docent, visiting museums on vacation is like a busman's holiday for me.
See also: holiday
at (one's) leisure
Done according to one's own convenience or comfort. The tour group always gives us a couple free hours so we can explore each city at our leisure. There is no time limit to the exam, so please complete it at your leisure.
See also: leisure
at leisure
1. When one has the time to do something. In this usage, a possessive pronoun is used between "at" and "leisure." No rush, you can fill out that paperwork at your leisure.
2. In a relaxed manner. I like to spend my weekends reading at leisure.
3. With free time; unoccupied. I just graduated from college—can't I spend some time at leisure?
See also: leisure
idle folk have the least leisure
proverb People who are slow to finish their work ultimately have less free time. Idle folk have the least leisure, you know. So if you would just write your paper instead of procrastinating, you'd have some time to really relax.
See also: folk, have, idle, least, leisure
idle people have the least leisure
proverb People who are slow to finish their work ultimately have less free time. Idle people have the least leisure, you know. So if you would just write your paper instead of procrastinating, you'd have some time to really relax.
See also: have, idle, least, leisure, people
man/woman/gentleman/lady of leisure
Someone who has enough money that they do not need to work for a living, and therefore can spend their time however they please. The group mostly consists of ladies of leisure who use their time, money, and influence to help charity causes. I tried my hand at a variety of professions, but in the end, the life that suits me best is that of a man of leisure.
See also: gentleman, lady, leisure, man, of, woman
marry in haste, repent at leisure
proverb If you marry someone without being certain that you should, you will regret it for a long time. She's only known him for three months! You know what they say—marry in haste, repent at leisure.
See also: leisure, marry, repent
the busiest men have the most leisure
proverb People who finish their work quickly and efficiently end up having more free time at their disposal. A: "Tom has the highest GPA in our class, but whenever I see him, he's playing video games, not studying!" B: "I guess it's true what they say—the busiest men have the most leisure."
See also: busy, have, leisure, men, most
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.
at leisure
and at one's leisureat one's convenience. Choose one or the other at your leisure. Please drop by at your leisure.
See also: leisure
busiest men have the most leisure
and busiest men find the most timeProv. Industrious people get their work done efficiently and therefore have time to do what they want. Fred: How does Phil do it? He produces more than the rest of us, but he also manages to pursue all his hobbies. Alan: The busiest men have the most leisure. As the town's only doctor, Bert worked extremely hard, yet he always had time to play with his children and go out with his wife. The busiest men find the most time.
See also: busy, have, leisure, men, most
busman's holiday leisure
time spent doing something similar to what one does at work. (Alludes to a bus driver going on a bus tour for his vacation or on a day off.) Tutoring students in the evening is a busman's holiday for our English teacher. It's a bit of a busman's holiday to ask her to be wardrobe mistress for our amateur production in the summer. She's a professional dressmaker.
See also: holiday, leisure
Idle people have the least leisure.
and Idle folk have the least leisure.Prov. If you are not energetic and hardworking, you will never have any free time, since you will have to spend all your time finishing your work. My grandmother always told me not to dawdle, since idle people have the least leisure.
See also: have, idle, least, leisure, people
Marry in haste, (and) repent at leisure.
Prov. If you marry someone you do not know well, or decide to marry someone without first carefully considering what you are doing, you will probably regret it for a long time. Sally wanted some time to consider Sam's proposal of marriage; she had heard the saying, "Marry in haste, and repent at leisure."
See also: leisure, marry, repent
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.
at leisure
1. Slowly, without haste, as in the famous 16th-century proverb, Marry in haste and repent at leisure.
2. Unemployed, having free time, as in I'm not looking for another job right now; I want to be at leisure for at least a few months . This usage has become less common but is still heard. [1300s] Also see at one's leisure.
See also: leisure
at one's leisure
Whenever one wishes, at one's convenience, as in At your leisure, please look over this manuscript and give me your comments. [1400s] Also see at leisure.
See also: leisure
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
a busman's holiday
mainly BRITISHIf someone spends part of their holiday doing things they do in their normal job, you can say that they are having a busman's holiday. This is probably the best fish restaurant in the country — at least one admiring chef a week passes through the cheery dining room on a busman's holiday. A fire crew's Christmas outing turned into a busman's holiday when their coach caught fire. Note: This expression may refer to bus drivers at the beginning of the 20th century when buses were horse-drawn. Drivers sometimes spent their day off riding on their own bus to make sure that the relief drivers were treating the horses properly.
See also: holiday
a lady of leisure
A lady of leisure is a woman who does not have to work. There'll be no more mid-week shopping now you're no longer a lady of leisure.
See also: lady, leisure, of
Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed.
a busman's holiday
a holiday or form of recreation that involves doing the same thing that you do at work.From the late 19th century, a popular form of working-class recreation was to take an excursion by bus.
See also: holiday
lady (or man or gentleman) of leisure
a person who does not need to earn a living or whose time is free from obligations to others.See also: lady, leisure, of
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary
a busman’s ˈholiday
(informal) a holiday spent doing the same kind of thing that you do at work: The fire crew’s annual outing turned into a busman’s holiday when their bus caught fire. Fortunately, no one was hurt in the blaze.This phrase may refer to the drivers of horse-drawn vehicles in the 19th century. When they were not working, they often rode as passengers on their own buses to make sure that the replacement driver was treating their horses well.See also: holiday
at (your) ˈleisure
without needing to hurry, at a convenient time for you: I’m not going to read this report now; I’ll read it later at my leisure.See also: leisure
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary
at (one's) leisure
When one has free time; at one's convenience: I'll return the call at my leisure.
See also: leisure
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition.
- busman
- busman's holiday
- busman's holiday leisure
- busman's holiday, a
- holiday
- a busman's holiday
- staycation
- be in the hole
- access
- access to