business as usual

Idioms  

1. The normal course of some activity, as in The fire destroyed only a small section of the store, so it's business as usual. This term originated as an announcement that a commercial establishment was continuing to operate in spite of fire, construction, or some similar interruption. It had been extended to broader use by 1914, when Winston Churchill said in a speech: “The maxim of the British people is ‘Business as usual,’” which became a slogan for the rest of World War I. Today it may be used in this positive sense and also pejoratively, as in Never mind that most civilians are starving to death—the ministry regards its job to be business as usual. [Late 1800s]

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Example Sentences

Security analysts say the group’s horizontal, franchise-like structure allowed it to engineer a rapid response to Oseguera’s killing — and will allow it to do business as usual in the coming months.

From Los Angeles Times

This week, those vacationing at all-inclusive resorts outside of the major metropolitan areas in Puerto Vallarta largely experienced business as usual, Lee said, based on reports from clients in Mexico.

From The Wall Street Journal

"You always have to ask yourself if you can say something that would make the situation better. You don't want to come out and just provide content for the sake of it. My gut is that business as usual still works best."

From BBC

According to royal sources, the King has no intention of "sticking his head in the sand" and is going to keep on attending events, he won't be avoiding the public and will be getting on with business as usual.

From BBC

Members said it still feels like business as usual at Core, with banker and lawyer types coming in for breakfast and lunch with business contacts in the days after Epstein’s connection to the club became public.

From The Wall Street Journal