the business
Idioms-
Verbal abuse, scolding, or teasing; also, a beating. For example, At boarding school new kids always get the business , or The boxer faked and then gave his opponent the business . [ Slang ; c. 1940]
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A harsh interrogation, as in The detectives gave each suspect the business . [ Slang ; c. 1940]
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Dismissal from work or jilting, as in Once the new management takes over I'm sure to get the business , or Dorothy gave him the business and married someone else . [ Slang ; c. 1940]
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Amazon CEO Andy Jassy shared last week that the business is growing at triple-digit rates, surpassing $20 billion in annual run rate.
From MarketWatch • Apr. 15, 2026
Simone Miles, the chief executive of Allergy UK, says it is not just the business who has a responsibility when it comes to allergies, customers need to be upfront too.
From BBC • Apr. 15, 2026
Virtually all the organic growth has come from the commercial side of the business.
From Barron's • Apr. 15, 2026
Some of the directors opposed expansion of the business beyond Seattle, but he pushed successfully to open new stores in other states, and sales soared.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 15, 2026
I love how in summer the business of politics slowly starts to go quiet and life tilts more toward fun.
From "Becoming" by Michelle Obama
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
