1
general::
business
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 )
• 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
>>> Do not say ' make business '. Say do business .
business 2
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.
transnet.ir
3
general::
Phrase(s): *the business
1. harassment; a scolding; general bad treatment. (*Typically: get ~; give someone ~.) • The guys have been giving me the business about my new hairstyle. • Sam was giving Tom the business about being late all the time. 2. Sl. an execution. (Underworld. *Typically: get ~; give someone ~.) • The mob wanted to give him the business for confessing to the federal prosecutor.
McGrawhill's American Idioms And Phrasal Verbs
5
general::
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
the buying and selling of goods and services. Commerce is more formal than business , 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.
Longman-Thesaurus
6
general::
noun buying and selling of goods ADJ. big | profitable | private | core It's time to focus on the company's core business. | retail, wholesale | catering, computer, investment, etc. VERB + BUSINESS carry on (often law), conduct, do, transact a company that has ceased to carry on business He's someone I can do business with (= that I find it easy/pleasant to do business with). | work in She works in the computer business. | go into, set up in | go out of The firm went out of business during the recession. | put sb/sth out of The new regulations will put many small firms out of business. BUSINESS + NOUN deal, transaction | meeting | lunch | trip | community | executive, manager, partner | contact | affairs, interests, matters | investment | secret protecting business secrets | plan | acumen | card | hours You can call the helpline during normal business hours. | school | studies | park The company's offices are located in the new business park out of town. PREP. in ~ He's in business. What business are you in? (figurative) All we need is a car and we'll be in business (= we'll have everything we need to start what we want to do). | on ~ going to Paris on business PHRASES business as usual (= things will continue as normal in spite of a difficult situation) It's business as usual at the factory, even while investigators sift through the bomb wreckage. | business or pleasure Is the trip to Rome business or pleasure? | mix business with pleasure When I travel abroad I like to mix business with pleasure. | a place of business amount of trade done ADJ. brisk, good Business was brisk and they had sold out by midday. | bad, slack, slow VERB + BUSINESS drum up, generate She's in Europe drumming up business for her new company. | tout for insurance salesmen touting for business | lose We're losing business to our main rivals. BUSINESS + VERB boom Business is booming for estate agents in the south as the property market hots up. | pick up After a slack period business is now picking up. firm/shop ADJ. large, medium-sized, small | family | international, local | private | state-owned | profitable, successful | mail order, retail, wholesale VERB + BUSINESS have, own | manage, run It was always my dream to run my own business. | set up, start They decided to start their own business. | build up We built up the business from nothing. | work in He works in the family business. | take over | expand, grow We are looking to grow the business over the next couple of years. | join, leave BUSINESS + VERB do/go well, take off After six months the business really took off. | expand, grow The business is expanding fast. | collapse, fail BUSINESS + NOUN assets, premises | failureORGANIZATION work/responsibility ADJ. daily VERB + BUSINESS go about market traders going about their daily business | make sth I shall make it my business to find out who is responsible. PHRASES have no business doing sth/to do sth You have no business (= no right) being here. | mind your own business (= think about your own affairs and not try to get involved in other people's) ‘What are you reading?’ ‘Mind your own business!’ I was just sitting there, minding my own business, when a man started shouting at me. | none of your business/no business of yours My private life is none of your business (= does not concern you). important matters ADJ. private | important, pressing, urgent | unfinished We've got some unfinished business to discuss. VERB + BUSINESS get down to OK, let's get down to business. | deal with, discuss, talk I'm not going to talk business tonight. PHRASES any other business (= items discussed at the end of a meeting) I think we've finished item four. Now, is there any other business? situation/event ADJ. whole I'll be glad when the whole business is over and done with. | awful, bad, dreadful, terrible It was an awful business?he couldn't work for months. | funny, strange
Oxford Collocations Dictionary