start a new hobby

Meaning

This phrase means to begin doing a regular leisure activity for pleasure or relaxation. It is often used when discussing personal growth, free time, or lifestyle changes.

Examples

• I decided to start a new hobby during the winter months to keep myself busy.

  I decided to start a new hobby during the winter months to keep myself busy.

• If you're feeling bored, you should start a new hobby like painting or gardening.

  If you're feeling bored, you should start a new hobby like painting or gardening.

• She wants to start a new hobby, but she can't choose between pottery and photography.

  She wants to start a new hobby, but she can't choose between pottery and photography.

• It's never too late to start a new hobby and meet people who share your interests.

  It's never too late to start a new hobby and meet people who share your interests.

• He decided to start a new hobby to help manage his daily work stress.

  He decided to start a new hobby to help manage his daily work stress.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ I want to open a new hobby.

  ✓ I want to start a new hobby.

  You cannot 'open' an activity in English. Use 'start' or 'take up' for hobbies.

• ✗ He started a new hobby of playing the guitar.

  ✓ He started playing the guitar as a new hobby.

  While 'hobby of playing' is grammatically possible, it sounds stilted. It is more natural to say you started playing a specific instrument as a hobby, or to use 'take up'.

Related Expressions

Practice

• I have too much free time on weekends, so I should ___.

  💡 Begin a new recreational activity.

  Show answer

  start a new hobby

• My doctor suggested I ___ to help me relax after work.

  💡 Initiate a fun, stress-relieving activity in your free time.

  Show answer

  start a new hobby