Learn English – “beer money”

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What is the meaning of the term beer money in the sentence:

People often ask me to describe in detail how I’ve got to be where I am today, thinking that I’ve spent years earning beer money in local clubs, but the truth is, I’m literally an overnight sensation!

I've searched on the web and found that beer money is a card game. Is this what he is referring to, or is it an idiomatic expression?

Best Answer

Beer money is the amount of cash set aside by the male head of the family, in order to spend a night or two out drinking with friends in pubs. The "beer money" in your excerpt, is talking about the amount of money earned by the entertainer, similar to tips, handed out by the regulars who attended the local.

I imagine that the entertainer is either a comedian who performed in small comedy clubs, notorious venues for heavy drinking and introducing new acts, or that he is a musician; perhaps a singer-songwriter and guitarist. They too perform in pubs in order to attract more customers.

EDIT: The entertainer however did not start his career by building up slowly over the years but rather he defines his (it could be a woman but I very much doubt it) as being an "overnight sensation" i.e instantaneous recognition and fame.

The longman dictionary defines "beer money" as:

beer money [uncountable] British English, informal a little extra money to buy a drink or have fun with: "The job was never going to make me rich, but it kept me in beer money for a while."

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