All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy

all work and no play (makes Jack a dull boy)

proverb Working too much can be bad for one's health or can make one boring. Come out to the pub with us tonight! All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy. All work and no play isn't ideal, but I absolutely must finish this report tonight. A: "Haven't you ever heard that all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy?" B: "Yes, but that doesn't give me any more time to finish this project—it's still due tomorrow!"

See also: all, and, dull, jack, no, play, work

Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2022 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.

All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.

Prov. It is not healthy for someone to work all the time and never play. (Often used to exhort someone to stop working, or to justify why you have stopped working. You can substitute the name of the person you are addressing for Jack.) Don't come to the office this weekend. All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy. I'd like to take a week's vacation next month. All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.

See also: all, and, boy, dull, jack, make, no, play, work

McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.