Collocations for business - noun
1. buying and selling of goods
ADJ.
big | profitable | private | core
It''s time to focus on the company''s core business.
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).
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.
She works in the computer business.
go into, set up in | go out of
The firm went out of business during the recession.
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.
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
protecting business secrets
plan | acumen | card | hours
You can call the helpline during normal business 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.
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).
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
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.
(= 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?
Is the trip to Rome business or pleasure?
mix business with pleasure
When I travel abroad I like to mix business with pleasure.
When I travel abroad I like to mix business with pleasure.
a place of business
2. amount of trade done
ADJ.
brisk, good
Business was brisk and they had sold out by midday.
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.
She''s in Europe drumming up business for her new company.
tout for
insurance salesmen touting for business
insurance salesmen touting for business
lose
We''re losing business to our main rivals.
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.
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.
After a slack period business is now picking up.
3. 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.
It was always my dream to run my own business.
set up, start
They decided to start their own business.
They decided to start their own business.
build up
We built up the business from nothing.
We built up the business from nothing.
work in
He works in the family business.
He works in the family business.
take over | expand, grow
We are looking to grow the business over the next couple of years.
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.
After six months the business really took off.
expand, grow
The business is expanding fast.
The business is expanding fast.
collapse, fail
BUSINESS + NOUN
assets, premises | failure
4. work/responsibility
ADJ.
daily
VERB + BUSINESS
go about
market traders going about their daily business
market traders going about their daily business
make sth
I shall make it my business to find out who is responsible.
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.
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.
(= 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).
My private life is none of your business (= does not concern you).
5. important matters
ADJ.
private | important, pressing, urgent | unfinished
We''ve got some unfinished business to discuss.
We''ve got some unfinished business to discuss.
VERB + BUSINESS
get down to
OK, let''s get down to business.
OK, let''s get down to business.
deal with, discuss, talk
I''m not going to talk business tonight.
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?
(= items discussed at the end of a meeting) I think we''ve finished item four. Now, is there any other business?
6. situation/event
ADJ.
whole
I''ll be glad when the whole business is over and done with.
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.
It was an awful business - he couldn''t work for months.
funny, strange