After British and Dutch diplomats strenuously argued that the arrests had resulted from cultural misunderstanding of an eccentric hobby, the group was released.

Mr. Wharton, who is 44, supports himself, and a handful of expensive and eccentric hobbies, mostly by working as a highly paid forensic engineer.

They are always well educated, frequently have unusual or eccentric hobbies, and are commonly found in their natural environment, an English country house.

This is no mere eccentric hobby that you have, it is a genuine vocation.

"Perhaps-having discovered that the son's little eccentric hobby was so deadly to their cause, they thought to counter it by following the father's example."

Around the dovecote, their eccentric hobby is legitimized.

You ask me, it was more an eccentric hobby of hers than anything else.

'Oh, this is my eccentric hobby, you know.'

Most people, when they first hear about it, think it's an eccentric little hobby.

It also echoes the theme of an individual born into great wealth who indulges in an eccentric hobby.