- 1[countable] an activity that you do as well as your main job in order to earn extra money His hobby of winemaking was fast becoming a profitable sideline. Oxford Collocations Dictionary adjectivelittle, lucrative, nice, … verb + sidelinehave, develop prepositionsideline for, sideline in, sideline to, … See full entry
- 2sidelines [plural] the lines along the two long sides of a sports field, tennis court, etc. that mark the outer edges; the area just outside these The coach stood on the sidelines yelling instructions to the players. See related entries: Tennis Extra examples He decided to turn his hobby into a lucrative sideline. He had found himself a nice little sideline painting windows. She is developing a nice little sideline in babysitting for friends. The restaurant started out as a sideline to his main business.Idioms
watching something but not actually involved in it He was content to watch from the sidelines as his wife built up a successful business empire. She has chosen to remain on the sidelines of public debate.
Check pronunciation: sideline
