Another day, another dollar


What's the meaning of the phrase 'Another day, another dollar'?

The proverbial phrase ‘another day, another dollar’ is a weary resignation that the day to come will be one of tedious work, the only benefit being the small amount of payment at the end of it.

What's the origin of the phrase 'Another day, another dollar'?

‘Another day, another dollar’ began as a sailor’s expression in the USA in the 19th century. It dates from the days when sailors were paid a dollar a day.

On long voyages each day was similar to the last and all that the seamen had to show for a day’s work was one more dollar in their pocket.

Joseph Conrad referred to the form of payment in his seafaring novel The [N-word] of the ‘Narcissus’: A Tale of the Forecastle, 1897:

The common saying, ‘More days, more dollars,’ did not give the usual comfort because the stores were running short.

Conrad was a successful novelist and the currently used form of the expression soon started appearing in other places. A story entitled ‘Gittin’ up time‘ was reprinted in several US newspapers in March 1907, including the   Logansport (Indiana) Daily Reporter:

I sat up and stretched and yawned. “Oh hum! The same old grind. Another day, another dollar.”

The proverb has long since lost its nautical connections and is now used worldwide as an ironic and weary resignation marking the start of another unremarkable working day.

Trend of another day in printed material over time

Gary Martin is a writer and researcher on the origins of phrases and the creator of the Phrase Finder website. Over the past 26 years more than 700 million of his pages have been downloaded by readers. He is one of the most popular and trusted sources of information on phrases and idioms.

Gary Martin

Writer and researcher on the origins of phrases and the creator of the Phrase Finder website. Over the past 26 years more than 700 million of his pages have been downloaded by readers. He is one of the most popular and trusted sources of information on phrases and idioms.

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