bit on the side
In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.
Meaning · English
A secondary lover, a mistress.
Register: slang
Examples
I'm married to Paula, but Jackie, my bit on the side, is far more fun.
Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30)
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org). Figurative class: Euphemism (PIE-English corpus, CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-31).
Common questions
What does “bit on the side” mean?
A secondary lover, a mistress.
Is “bit on the side” formal or informal?
bit on the side is generally slang.