Dictionary

stick to business en · VERB

Meanings

1. To concentrate on the important matters which are of present concern; to avoid becoming distracted or sidetracked.
   • Tyson missed a week of training. […] His trainer, Freddie Roach, worried that Tyson would not be in shape if the fight went into the later rounds. It proved not to be a concern. […] "I just told Mike to stick to business. Stop screwing around and fight." 2003 February 23, Tim Dahlberg, “Boxing: Tyson wins in just 49 seconds”, in Independent, retrieved 27 Nov 2020:
   • "[T]here are more failures in the lumber business than in any other I know anything about. Why is it?" "Economic waste," put in Merker, who was leaning across the counter. "Lack of experience," said Bob. […] "No," said Welton, emphasizing his point with his pipe; "it's not sticking to business! It's not stripping her down to the bare necessities! It's going in for frills! When you get to be as old as I am, you learn not to monkey with the band wagon." 1910, Stewart Edward White, chapter 52, in The Rules of the Game:
   • Desert Wind, an Afghan with all the patrician haughtiness of his breed when sticking to business as a show dog and playful as a puppy afterward, became top dog tonight. 1967 November 26, John Rendel, “Afghan Captures 32d Best in Show”, in New York Times, retrieved 27 Nov 2020:
   • Clinton sought to stick to business despite what she called political "distractions." 2015 April 22, Anne Gearan, “Politics: 5 takeaways from Hillary Clinton’s return to New Hampshire”, in Washington Post, retrieved 27 Nov 2020:

Forms

Relateds

mind one's own business · take care of business · stick to one's knitting