On the Side
phrase
Definition
1. (phrase) In addition to your main job or activity — something extra you do to earn money or stay busy.
2. (phrase) Secretly, especially when talking about a romantic or sexual relationship that someone is hiding from their partner.
3. (phrase) Served separately from the main dish — used when ordering food.
2. (phrase) Secretly, especially when talking about a romantic or sexual relationship that someone is hiding from their partner.
3. (phrase) Served separately from the main dish — used when ordering food.
Context Alive
Your cousin works full-time at a bank, but every evening after work he goes home and builds websites for small businesses. He doesn't talk about it much at the office because he's not sure if his contract allows it. When people ask how he can afford his new car, he just smiles and says he does a bit of freelance work on the side. It's not illegal or anything — he just likes keeping his two worlds separate.
Meanings
3 meanings
1
Extra, In Addition to Your Main Thing (Phrase)
Very Common
▼
This meaning is about doing something extra alongside your main job, activity, or commitment — usually to earn more money or pursue a passion. Imagine a teacher who loves baking and sells cakes to friends and neighbours at weekends — she bakes on the side because her salary alone isn't enough for everything she wants. This is describing an activity that runs parallel to your main life, not as a replacement. You might hear "he drives for Uber on the side to pay off his student loans" about someone with a second income stream, or someone could say "I do some graphic design on the side — it's not my main job but it pays well" when explaining their extra work. Or think about a chef who grows vegetables in his garden and sells them at a local market on the side — it's a bonus, not his career. The word suggests something extra that runs alongside the main thing.
✏️ "Side hustle" is the modern buzzword for this — it means a business or job you do on the side. You'll hear it everywhere: "What's your side hustle?" has become a normal question among younger people. The phrase "on the side" can also apply to non-money things: "She's learning Spanish on the side" just means in addition to her other commitments.
2
Secretly, Especially a Hidden Relationship (Phrase)
Common
▼
This meaning is about doing something in secret — most commonly used for a romantic or sexual relationship that someone is hiding from their partner. Imagine finding out that your friend's husband has been seeing another woman for months — he had someone on the side the whole time and nobody knew until she found the messages. This is describing something hidden and usually considered wrong or dishonest. You might hear "everyone knew he had a girlfriend on the side except his wife" about a man who was cheating openly among friends, or someone could say "she found out he'd been seeing someone on the side for over a year" when the secret finally came out. Or think about a politician whose career ends when the press discovers he has a family on the side that nobody knew about. The word suggests secrecy, dishonesty, and a double life.
✏️ This meaning is almost always about cheating — having a partner, lover, or relationship that you're hiding. "He has someone on the side" instantly means he's seeing another person behind his partner's back. It can also be used for other secret activities — "making money on the side" can sometimes hint that the income isn't entirely legal — but the cheating meaning is by far the strongest association.
3
Food Served Separately (Phrase)
Common
▼
This meaning is about asking for part of your meal to be served in a separate dish rather than mixed in or poured over the main food. Imagine ordering a salad at a restaurant and you don't want the dressing all over it because you like to control how much goes on — you ask for the dressing on the side. This is describing a way of serving food where extras or toppings are kept separate so you can add them yourself. You might say "can I get the sauce on the side?" when you don't want it poured directly on your steak, or someone could say "I'll have the burger with fries on the side" meaning the fries come on a separate plate or section. Or picture ordering pancakes and asking for the syrup on the side because you want to pour just a little bit. The word suggests keeping things separate so you have control.
✏️ This is essential restaurant English. If you eat out in English-speaking countries, you'll use this constantly. "Dressing on the side" is probably the most common version — almost every salad order involves this choice. It also works for any extra: "mayo on the side," "cheese on the side," "ketchup on the side." Waiters understand it instantly.
Common Patterns
Basic Structures
do something on the side → to do an activity in addition to your main one
She teaches yoga on the side to earn some extra cash.
have someone on the side → to secretly have a romantic partner besides your official one
It turned out he'd had someone on the side for years.
something on the side (food) → served separately from the main dish
Can I get the dressing on the side, please?
Common Structures
make money on the side → to earn extra income outside your main job
He makes money on the side by selling vintage clothes online.
a little something on the side → a vague way to describe extra income or a secret affair
Everyone suspects she has a little something on the side, but nobody asks.
with + noun + on the side → ordering food with an item served separately
I'll have the grilled chicken with rice and salad on the side.
Collocations
10 collocationsearn money on the side
to make extra income alongside your main job
make money on the side
same as above — very common phrasing
work on the side
to have a secondary job or activity
side hustle
a modern term for a business or job done on the side
have someone on the side
to secretly be in a relationship with another person
seeing someone on the side
secretly dating another person while in a relationship
dressing on the side
salad dressing served in a separate container
sauce on the side
sauce served separately from the main dish
fries on the side
chips/fries served as a separate portion alongside the main item
do freelance on the side
to take on freelance projects outside your regular job
Example Sentences
10 examples
1
He works at a bank during the week and does photography on the side.
His main job is at a bank, but he also earns money from photography as an extra.
2
She found out her boyfriend had been seeing someone on the side for six months.
She discovered her boyfriend had been secretly dating another person for half a year.
3
Can I get the mayo on the side? I don't want it on the burger.
Could you serve the mayonnaise separately? I'd rather not have it spread on the burger.
4
A lot of people start businesses on the side before quitting their day jobs.
Many people launch their own ventures while still working full-time before making the switch.
5
The rumour was that the CEO had a whole second family on the side.
People were saying the CEO had been secretly raising another family that nobody knew about.
6
I'll have the steak with a salad on the side, please.
I'd like the steak, and could you bring a salad separately with it?
7
She's been learning coding on the side — she wants to switch careers eventually.
She's been teaching herself to code in her free time because she plans to change jobs.
8
He was making thousands on the side selling sneakers, and nobody at work knew.
He was secretly earning a fortune reselling trainers, and none of his colleagues had any idea.
9
I always ask for the dressing on the side — I hate soggy salads.
I always request the dressing in a separate dish because I don't like wet, dripping salads.
10
She tutors kids on the side after her regular teaching hours.
She gives private lessons to children as extra work outside her normal school schedule.
Phrasal Verbs & Idioms
1 items
Idioms & Expressionsa bit on the side — a secret lover or affair — British slang, quite direct and often humorous
The whole neighbourhood found out he had a bit on the side when she showed up at his door.
Synonyms & Antonyms
6 items
Synonymsas a sideline
more formal — often used in business contexts for secondary activities
in secret
only matches the cheating/hidden meaning — not for extra work or food
separately
only matches the food meaning — plain and functional
Antonymsfull-time
doing something as your main, primary commitment — not as an extra
openly
the opposite of secretly — doing something for everyone to see
mixed in
the opposite of the food meaning — combined rather than served apart