Business topic: What you need to know about Business | Business

business

busi‧ness

/

ˈbɪznəs

/

●●●

S1

W1

noun

 

 

Don’t use ‘the business’ when talking in general about the activity of making money. You say:

Don’t use ‘the business’ when talking in general about the activity of making money. You say: Tourism is good for business. ✗ Don’t say: Tourism is good for the business.

Grammar Don’t use ‘the business’ when talking in general about the activity of making money. You say: Tourism is good for business. ✗ Don’t say: Tourism is good for the business.

We do business with a number of Italian companies.

Students on the course learn about all aspects of business.

the activity of making money by producing or buying and selling goods, or providing services

They don’t know how to run a business.

She now has her own $25 million home-shopping business.

an organization such as a company, shop , or factory that produces or sells goods or provides a service

3

how much work a company has

[

uncountable

]

BUSINESS

the amount of work a company does or the amount of money it makes

 

We’re now

doing

twice as much

business

as we did last year.

 

Exports account for 72% of overall business.

business is good/bad/slow etc

 

Business is slow during the summer.

drum up business

(=

try to get more work for you or your company

)

 

Perot was in Europe, drumming up business for his new investment company.

4

for your job

NOT PLEASURE

[

uncountable

]

BUSINESS

work that you do as part of your job

 

She’s in New York this week

on business

(=

for her work

)

.

 

Hi Maggie! Is this phone call

business or pleasure

?

business trip/meeting etc

 

We discussed the idea over a business lunch.

 

useful

business contacts

It is the business of government to listen to the various groups within society.

it is the business of somebody to do something

it is the business of somebody to do something It is the business of government to listen to the various groups within society.

if it is someone’s business to do something, it is their duty or responsibility to do it

(= it doesn’t concern you, so don’t ask me questions about it )

‘Are you going out with Kate tonight?’ ‘ That’s my business (= it doesn’t concern you, so don’t ask me questions about it ) ’.

(= Don’t ask questions about something that does not concern you )

‘Who’s that girl you were with?’ ‘ Mind your own business (= Don’t ask questions about something that does not concern you ) !’

It’s none of your business how much I weigh.

It was not her business, she decided, to ask where the money came from.

if something is not your business or none of your business, you should not be involved in it or ask about it

what someone should be involved in

‘Is there any other business ?’ the chairman asked.

Okay, let’s get down to business (= start doing or discussing something ) .

things that need to be done or discussed

a serious/strange/funny etc business Leon regards keeping fit as a serious business.

a situation or activity, especially one that you have a particular opinion about or attitude towards

somebody was (just) minding their own business

make it your business to do something

have no business doing something/have no business to do something

not be in the business of doing something

COLLOCATIONS

–

Meaning 1: the activity of making money by producing or buying and selling goods, or providing services

verbs

do business

A lot of firms are keen to do business in Japan.

conduct business

formal

(=

do business

)

It is not a sensible way to conduct business.

go into business

(=

start working in business

)

A lot of university graduates want to go into business.

set up/start up in business

The bank gave me a loan to help me set up in business.

stay in business

(=

continue operating and not become bankrupt

)

Even if they manage to stay in business for another year, their long-term survival remains under threat.

Some stores are finding it hard to stay in business.

go out of business

(=

stop doing business because of financial problems

)

In a recession smaller firms often go out of business.

NOUN + business

the music/entertainment/computer etc business

He started out working in the computer business.

business + NOUN

a business deal

(=

an occasion when you buy or sell something

)

Negotiation is the most important part of a business deal.

business activities

His wife refused to get involved in his business activities.

business interests

(=

business activities, or shares in companies

)

Both companies have substantial business interests in Indonesia.

the business community

(=

people who work in business

)

There was pressure on the government from the business community.

the business world

You need to be flexible in today’s highly competitive business world.

business studies

(=

a course of study about business

)

She did business studies at college.

COMMON ERRORS

►

Don’t say ‘

make business

’. Say

do business

.

COLLOCATIONS

–

Meaning 2: an organization such as a company, shop, or factory that produces or sells goods or provides a service

verbs

have/own a business

Nick owned a software business in Boston.

run a business

(=

manage it

)

There’s plenty of advice available on how to run your own business.

start/set up a business

When you’re starting a business, you have to work longer hours.

take over a business

(=

buy it or start running it

)

When my father retired, I took over the business.

build (up)/develop a business

He spent years trying to build a business in Antigua.

establish a business

She overcame many financial difficulties to establish her business.

a business succeeds

Making a business succeed is not simple.

a business collapses/fails

(=

stops operating

)

35% of small businesses fail in the first year of operation.

ADJECTIVES/NOUN + business

a small business

(=

that employs only a few people

)

Many small businesses have been badly hit by the recession.

a medium-sized business

They offer services to small and medium-sized businesses.

a software/catering/construction etc business

His girlfriend runs a catering business.

a family business

(=

owned and controlled by one family

)

For many years the hotel was a family business.

an import/export business

Kingwell had an export business in New Zealand.

a successful/profitable/thriving business

Within a few years she had established a thriving business in London.

a viable business

(=

one that is likely to be successful

)

It soon became clear that the restaurant was not a viable business.

business + NOUN

a business partner

(=

someone who shares a business with you

)

Margie was his wife and also his business partner.

a business manager

We need to take on a business manager to deal with some of the admin.

a business customer/client

We’re providing our business customers with reliable, proven Internet technology.

THESAURUS

business

the activity of making money by producing, buying, or selling goods, or providing services

Business in Europe has been badly affected by economic conditions in the US.

He works in the advertising business.

trade

the buying and selling of goods and services, especially between countries

Trade between European countries became easier after the introduction of the Euro.

a trade agreement

commerce

Commerce

is more

business

, and is used when talking about business activities in

the buying and selling of goods and services.is more formal than, and is used when talking about business activities in general

One of the roles of the federal government is to regulate commerce.

London became a great

centre of commerce

.

the local

chamber of commerce

(=

an organization which the companies and shops in an area belong to

)

e-commerce

the buying and selling of goods and services on the Internet

E-commerce is a fast-growing part of the US economy.