busman's holiday

Definitions

A holiday or vacation during which one does something similar to what one does as work.

idiomatic

Examples

“I shall indeed take⟳ a holiday soon, probably on the Continent; but it will be a "Busman's Holiday." The bus-driver spends his "day off" in driving on a pal's bus, on the box-seat by his pal's side; and I know⟳ that night after night, all through my holiday, I shall be in and out of this hall and that theatre, never happy except when I am watching some theatrical piece or Variety entertainment.”

“Is not the following a rather notable instance of "the busman's holiday"? At a recent meeting of the Twickenham Education Committee Mr. F. W. Pearce, who is surveyor to that body as well as to the urban district council, was asked what progress⟳ had been made with regard to the affixing of tablets on historic houses in the district. To this Mr. Pearce replied that he felt responsible for any delay⟳ in the matter⟳, but would devote to it the first week of his holiday!”

“In his [a private detective's] opinion one of the chief defects in detective stories—for he was given to busmen's holidays—was that authors made their 'sleuths' like⟳ unto the angels, watching for days without, so to speak⟳, taking their eye off the ball. It was not so in real life.”

“Cervinia is a Mecca for the skiing greats of the world. When the season is over at home—even as long a season as at Colorado's Snowmass—the pros take⟳ their busmen's holidays on the sunny slopes of the Plateau Rosa.”

“While it would seem that the judges have⟳ a long vacation each year, they actually have⟳ a sort⟳ of "busman's holiday" in that they take⟳ their "homework" with them. They study⟳ applications for review⟳ during the summer recess.”

“Although it is in the nature of a busman's holiday, I always try⟳ to visit⟳ a nursery and a botanic garden when I'm traveling.”

“When he [Pierre Berton] first joined the [Toronto] Star, he had requested an annual five-week holiday. Beland Honderich agreed, but suggested that two of the weeks should be "disguised as an assignment." As a result⟳, Berton's travels produced several multi-part series of columns and Close-Up interviews. Janet [Berton] accompanied him on these busman's holidays whenever circumstances permitted.”

“I have⟳ come⟳ to realize⟳ that the busman's holiday is an elemental part of my life. Actually, I don't know⟳ where my work⟳ life stops and my recreational life begins.”

CEFR level