busman's holiday
noun phrase

- a holiday or time away from work where you do something similar to your usual work instead of having a rest from it

Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary

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WORD ORIGIN

According to the Morris Dictionary of Word and Phrase Origins, the expression originated in the close relationship between horses and their drivers in the days when London's omnibuses were horse-drawn. Many of the drivers would check to see if proper care was used in handling their team of horses during their day off. If he suspected that the substitute driver was negligent in handling the horses, the regular driver might sit among the passengers - without drawing attention to himself - to observe the new driver's behaviour. Thus, these rides came to be called "busman's holidays".

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NO TIME TO RELAX

In some respects a busman's holiday is no holiday at all. Some people, particularly those with high profile careers or jobs with major responsibilities, simply don't take vacations. They often have mixed emotions about taking so much time away from their professional duties. The result is usually called a busman's holiday, in which the person spends his or her vacation time doing the same activities as he or she does for a living. A doctor, for example, may take a busman's holiday to work in a free clinic in a Third World country.

Some notable examples:

- Thomas Edison = The prolific inventor filed over 1,000 patents and famously claimed he never slept more than 4 hours a night.

- Marie Curie = The pioneering physicist and chemist made groundbreaking discoveries in radioactivity, earning her two Nobel Prizes. She reportedly averaged only 3-4 hours of sleep per night, dedicating her days to her research.

- Pablo Picasso = The Spanish painter and sculptor, a prolific artist who revolutionized modern art, had a notoriously chaotic and intense work schedule. He would often work through the night, fueled by an endless supply of coffee and cigarettes.

- Stephen Hawking = The renowned physicist, despite facing debilitating motor neurone disease, maintained an incredibly demanding academic schedule. He worked tirelessly, publishing over 1,000 scientific papers and writing several books, including the iconic "A Brief History of Time."

- Jeff Bezos = The Amazon founder typically slept in his office after long days building his ecommerce empire in the early startup days.

- Bill Gates =  The co-founder of Microsoft, one of the most successful entrepreneurs in history, is known for his intense focus and dedication to his work. He reportedly worked 18-hour days during the early days of Microsoft, fueled by sugary snacks and caffeine.

- Oprah Winfrey = The media mogul, actress, and philanthropist, has built an empire based on her work ethic, passion, and ability to connect with people. She reportedly works 10-12 hours per day, juggling multiple projects and commitments.

- Arianna Huffington = The founder and CEO of The Huffington Post, an advocate for work-life balance, has spoken openly about her own struggles with overwork and burnout. She now promotes practices like meditation and sleep to help people find a healthier balance.

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SYNONYMS

- for holiday

a break, a change of pace (of scenery), a pause from routine (peaceful intermission, period of recreation, recreational break), a rest from the daily grind, breather, break from daily routine, change of pace (of scene, of scenery), getaway, great escape, hiatus from ordinary life, HOLIDAY, letup from daily responsibilities, lull from tedium, relief from responsibilities (from tedium), respite, retreat, time for renewal (for restoration, for revitalization), time off (to unwind), time-out, vacation, well-deserved break

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SMUGGLE OWAD into a conversation, say something like:

"During my next vacation I'll be completely offline, urgencies in the office turned my-week vacation into a BUSMAN'S HOLIDAY."

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