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

“We’ll take the three o’clock train back to Baltimore and meet up with the rest of the operatives at the Barnum Hotel,” he said in his Scottish lilt, his tone right back to business as usual.

From Literature

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, 86 years old, has resisted pressure to change course since the 12-day war, attempting to carry on business as usual.

From The Wall Street Journal

Coach Jim Harbaugh and quarterback Justin Herbert insisted that it’s business as usual for the Chargers ahead of their AFC wild-card showdown against the New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium on Sunday night.

From Los Angeles Times

In the video, which was reviewed by The Wall Street Journal, an official asked employees to continue to publish “under business as usual conditions” through its final edition.

From The Wall Street Journal

But for Chevron, it’s business as usual.

From The Wall Street Journal