I'd love to have lunch with you but I've got a report to finish - business before pleasure I'm afraid!
English Idioms & idiomatic expressions. 2014.
business before pleasure — The two nouns are frequently contrasted in other, non proverbial, expressions. Cf. c 1640 Grobiana’s Nuptials (MS Bodley 30) 15 Well to the businesse. On; businesse is senior to complement; 1767 T. HUTCHINSON Diary & Letters (1883) I. v. Pleasure … Proverbs new dictionary
business before pleasure — work before play, one must take care of his responsibilities before having fun … English contemporary dictionary
Business — Busi ness (b[i^]z n[e^]s), n.; pl. {Businesses} (b[i^]z n[e^]s*[e^]z). [From {Busy}.] 1. That which busies one, or that which engages the time, attention, or labor of any one, as his principal concern or interest, whether for a longer or shorter… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
business — I (New American Roget s College Thesaurus) Commercial enterprise Nouns 1. business, occupation, employment, pursuit; venture (See undertaking); task, work, job, chore, errand, commission, charge, care, assignment; busy work; racket. Slang, bag. 2 … English dictionary for students
pleasure — see business before pleasure he that would go to sea for pleasure, would go to hell for a pastime … Proverbs new dictionary
business — see business before pleasure business is war everybody’s business is nobody’s business punctuality is the soul of business … Proverbs new dictionary
business */*/*/ — UK [ˈbɪznəs] / US noun Word forms business : singular business plural businesses 1) [uncountable] the work of buying or selling products or services for money representatives from business and politics do business with someone: I found them very… … English dictionary
To do one's business — Business Busi ness (b[i^]z n[e^]s), n.; pl. {Businesses} (b[i^]z n[e^]s*[e^]z). [From {Busy}.] 1. That which busies one, or that which engages the time, attention, or labor of any one, as his principal concern or interest, whether for a longer or … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
To make a thing one's business — Business Busi ness (b[i^]z n[e^]s), n.; pl. {Businesses} (b[i^]z n[e^]s*[e^]z). [From {Busy}.] 1. That which busies one, or that which engages the time, attention, or labor of any one, as his principal concern or interest, whether for a longer or … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
To mean business — Business Busi ness (b[i^]z n[e^]s), n.; pl. {Businesses} (b[i^]z n[e^]s*[e^]z). [From {Busy}.] 1. That which busies one, or that which engages the time, attention, or labor of any one, as his principal concern or interest, whether for a longer or … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
