business as usual

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]

Example Sentences

“We further note that, because Alibaba does not do business related to U.S. military procurement, being on the Section 1260H List wouldn’t affect our ability to conduct business as usual in the United States or anywhere in the world.”

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“We further note that, because Alibaba does not do business related to U.S. military procurement, being on the Section 1260H List wouldn’t affect our ability to conduct business as usual in the United States or anywhere in the world.”

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It’s business as usual across the rest of the world—although judging by the early action, traders in Europe are also in holiday mode.

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WSJ Analysis Europe and Ukraine have said that there must be no return to business as usual after the war, and they want to see Russian President Vladimir Putin and other senior Russian officials held criminally responsible for the war.

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It’s back to business as usual.

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