Definition

1. Noun:
   • An activity done regularly in one's leisure time for pleasure: A hobby is an activity that someone does for enjoyment when they are not working.
   • A child's toy horse: A hobby can be a toy horse, often on rockers, that a child rides.
   • A small falcon: (Historical) A hobby is a type of small, fast Old World falcon.

Examples of Usage

• Noun (Leisure Activity):
  • Her main hobby is gardening.
  • He took up photography as a hobby.
• Noun (Toy):
  • The little boy rode his wooden hobby horse around the room.
• Noun (Bird):
  • The hobby is known for its swift flight when hunting insects.

Advanced Usage

• "Hobby horse": This phrase commonly refers to the child's toy. Figuratively, it can mean a topic someone frequently discusses or promotes.
  • He's always on his hobby horse about environmental issues.
• "Pursue a hobby": To actively engage in a leisure activity.
  • She pursues her hobby of painting every weekend.

Variants and Related Words

• Hobbyist (n): A person who pursues a particular hobby.
  • He is an avid model train hobbyist.
• Hobbyhorse (n): The standard spelling for the child's toy or a favorite topic.

Synonyms

• Pastime: An activity done for enjoyment.
• Avocation: A hobby or minor occupation.
• Pursuit: An activity of a specified kind, especially a recreational one.

Related Phrases

• Take up a hobby: To start doing a new leisure activity.
  • After retiring, he decided to take up a new hobby.
• An expensive hobby: A leisure activity that costs a lot of money.
  • Collecting vintage cars can be an expensive hobby.

Related Idioms

• Ride a hobby-horse: To talk repeatedly and obsessively about a favorite topic or idea.
  • Whenever we meet, he rides his hobby-horse about tax reform.

Noun

1. small Old World falcon formerly trained and flown at small birds
2. a child's plaything consisting of an imitation horse mounted on rockers; the child straddles it and pretends to ride
3. an auxiliary activity