"amateur hour" means: An event, particularly on radio or television, showcasing the talents of amateur performers.. This is a fairly neutral word with no inherent risk attached. There is no real cause for parental concern; it is descriptive vocabulary rather than something dangerous. If your child uses it, context will usually make the meaning clear. A brief, curious question about where they heard it is generally enough to know whether to follow up.
amateur hour
(chiefly, US) An event, particularly on radio or television, showcasing the talents of amateur performers.
ˈamətə ˈaʊə(ɹ)Documented since 1930s1930sSilenthistoricalCurrent187 viewsLast reviewed Jun 29, 2026＋ Add a definition
Seen in the wild
6 citations · last seen May 2026
Etymology timeline
Born ~1935 · 1 year of recorded use20th centurySee decade cohort →
Seen in the wild
BlueskyMay 2026
once again amateur hour effort by the ameriKKKanskis
View source
BlueskyMay 2026
Who is training these a$$ hats??? It looks like amateur hour to these veteran eyes www.pbs.org/newshour/pol...
View source
BlueskyMay 2026
Going to a Mexican restaurant on Cinco de Mayo is like going out to a bar on New Years or St. Pat’s Day- amateur hour. I would never do it.
View source
BlueskyMay 2026
A million dead from COVID? That's amateur hour stuff. RFK Brainworms Smackhead Jr. wants to watch millions of people die and then dust his hands off, another day's good work finished early.
View source
BlueskyMay 2026
And can run rings around the US 'business men' amateur hour negotiators.
View source
Definitions
#1·Apr 27, 2026
(chiefly, US) An event, particularly on radio or television, showcasing the talents of amateur performers.
"Momma was very talented. She liked to act in plays … She used to sing, do a lot of singing in French, you know. … They used to have amateur hours in those days. You didn't have that many places to go." She performed for the am…
Origin: [[File:Major Bowes Amateur Hour 1935.JPG|thumb|A 1935 photograph of [[w:Major Bowes|“Major” [Edward] Bowes]], the host of Major Bowes Amateur Hour which was broadcast on the radio in the US from 1934 to 1945]] Probably from the names of series of US radio and television programs such as Major Bowes Amateur Hour (broadcast on the radio 1934–1945) and The Original Amateur Hour (on the radio 1948–1952, and on television 1948–1970). Origin information sourced from Wiktionary contributors (CC BY-SA 4.0).
For parents
"amateur hour" means: An event, particularly on radio or television, showcasing the talents of amateur performers.. This is a fairly neutral word with no inherent risk attached. There is no real cause for parental concern; it is descriptive vocabulary rather than something dangerous. If your child uses it, context will usually make the meaning clear. A brief, curious question about where they heard it is generally enough to know whether to follow up.
For ESL learners
"amateur hour" means: An event, particularly on radio or television, showcasing the talents of amateur performers.. Register: neutral, standard English, usable in most everyday contexts. Note the regional or dialect label (US) — usage may sound odd outside that variety. A common non-native mistake is to use the word in the wrong register, or to assume one fixed meaning when it is actually polysemous; always check the surrounding register and the audience before producing it yourself. In formal writing, prefer a neutral synonym or a short descriptive phrase, and use this word only when you have heard or read it being used naturally in a comparable context.
Heard in the wild
“Who is training these a$$ hats??? It looks like amateur hour to these veteran eyes www.pbs.org/newshour/pol...”
— Bluesky· May 2026“Going to a Mexican restaurant on Cinco de Mayo is like going out to a bar on New Years or St. Pat’s Day- amateur hour. I would never do it.”
— Bluesky· May 2026“A million dead from COVID? That's amateur hour stuff. RFK Brainworms Smackhead Jr. wants to watch millions of people die and then dust his hands off, another day's good work finished early.”
— Bluesky· May 2026“And can run rings around the US 'business men' amateur hour negotiators.”
— Bluesky· May 2026“i always thought it was really embarrassing that he moved his head when the photographer said cheese. this ain't amateur hour james. keep your head still”
— Bluesky· May 2026
Was this helpful?
Comments
#2·Apr 27, 2026
(chiefly, US, idiomatic) A situation or activity in which the participants show a lack of skill, sound judgment, or professionalism.
[T]alent shows such as ''[[w:The Original Amateur Hour
Heard in the wild
“once again amateur hour effort by the ameriKKKanskis”
— Bluesky· May 2026
Was this helpful?
Comments
For specific readers
Why is this section here?
Slang is read by different audiences for very different reasons. The For parents view re-explains the term in plain, non-judgemental language so a caregiver can understand what their child means without needing the surrounding subculture. The For English learners view focuses on register (when it's safe to use), formal alternatives, and common mistakes — what a textbook won't teach you.
Have a better definition?
Add your own interpretation of "amateur hour".
🗺️About Regional & Other slang
Regional slang from around the English-speaking world — British, Australian, Irish, Caribbean, Nigerian, Filipino, AAVE, and the hyphenated-English dialects that make the internet sound local.
See all Regional & Other slang on Slangora.
Tags
Other words near "amateur hour" (A)
amapiano sznAmaraamarbelAmariAmarisamasiAmayaAmayahamazeballsamazeballs checkamazeballs energyamazeballs maxxing
Browse all slang words starting with A.