amateur hour

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amateur hour

/ˈamətə ˈaʊə(ɹ)/ UK
/-tjə/ UK
/-tjʊə/ UK
/ˈæmətɚ ˈaʊɚ/ US
/-tʃɚ/ US
/-tʃʊɚ/ US

Where it comes from

, 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).

noun amateur hours

US, countable, uncountable An event, particularly on radio or television, showcasing the talents of amateur performers. Near-synonym: amateur night
Similar: amateur night
US, countable, idiomatic, uncountable A situation or activity in which the participants show a lack of skill, sound judgment, or professionalism. Two years into its first term the [Jimmy] Carter Administration developed a foreign policy that seems in perfect continuity with its six predecessors. […] Little change has taken place during what has been called "the amateur hour" except for a slight quickening of the Cold War pulse.

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Cite this

MLA

"amateur hour." Wiktionary, via Micwyn, micwyn.com/word/amateur%20hour. Accessed 6 Nov. 2026.

APA

amateur hour. (n.d.). In Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Retrieved November 6, 2026, from https://micwyn.com/word/amateur%20hour

Chicago

"amateur hour." Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Accessed November 6, 2026. https://micwyn.com/word/amateur%20hour.

BibTeX

@misc{amateur_hour_2026,
  title = {amateur hour},
  howpublished = {Wiktionary, via Micwyn},
  year = {2026},
  url = {https://micwyn.com/word/amateur%20hour},
  urldate = {2026-11-06}
}