mean business en · VERB
Pronunciation
Meanings
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(idiomatic, used to convey serious intent) To be serious, especially where achieving a specific end against opposition is concerned.
Lorena Bobbit only did what men do to each other all the time: She showed an asshole she meant business.
1997, George Carlin, Brain Droppings, New York: Hyperion Books, →ISBN, →LCCN, →OCLC, →OL, page 102:Realising the L.C.R. meant business, the E.L.R. hastily withdrew from the negotiations and left the L.P.J.R. to make the best terms it could with the Carlisle company, […].
1960 February 14, M. D. Greville and G. O. Holt, “Railway Development in Preston—1”, in Railway Magazine, page 125:Say in a week from now, I will undertake to deliver this most marvellous masterpiece, if 'Look here, 'Tony, I mean business, if you don't.
1895, William Chambers, Robert Chambers, Chambers's journal:He projects his concern to all employees and he means business when he says the “buck stops here”.
2002, Armando T. Atienza, Shrewd Business Tactics:
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| means business | Number=Sing, Person=3, Tense=Pres | lexicographic | |
| meaning business | Tense=Pres, VerbForm=Part | lexicographic | |
| meant business | Tense=Past, VerbForm=Part | lexicographic | |
| meant business | Tense=Past | lexicographic |
Translations (6)
es no andarse con chiquitas (Translations) · fr être sérieux (Translations) · fr ne pas plaisanter (Translations) · fi olla tosissaan (Translations) · pl nie żartować (Translations) · it fare sul serio (Translations)