day in, day out
Meaning
Every day, repeatedly and routinely over a long period; day after day.
Origin
From the literal rhythm of days coming in and going out; recorded from the 19th century as a way to emphasize continual, routine repetition (βday after dayβ).
Notes
Often stresses monotony, routine, or persistence over time. Common in spoken and written English.
Examples
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She answers customer emails day in, day out, without ever falling behind.
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Day in, day out, the trains rumble past our apartment at dawn.
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He practiced the same piano scales day in, day out until his fingers stopped stumbling.
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They work on the assembly line day in, day out, and the repetition can be exhausting.
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I saw him at the park day in, day out, feeding the pigeons in the same spot.
Grammar & Usage Notes
Fixed phrase, usually set off by commas: βday in, day out.β Used adverbially (e.g., βHe works day in, day out.β). Not normally pluralized or reordered.
Synonyms
- day after day
- every day
- day in and day out (variant spelling)
- all day, every day
Antonyms
- once in a while
- from time to time
- occasionally
- now and then