mean business

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Drones and anti-drones mean business for a host of defense startups and established players.

From Barron's • Feb. 11, 2026

"We have been so unlucky to pick up more injuries, but with these new signings we look like we mean business," he told BBC Sport.

From BBC • Aug. 16, 2024

According to local reporting, members said the reason for the act of civil disobedience was to show the casinos that they mean business and that they’re willing to sit down in traffic for a contract.

From Washington Times • Oct. 26, 2023

The memo suggested wearing costumes “inspired by generalized characters and figures” — such as ghosts, zombies or spiders — to show the studios they mean business, even on a holiday.

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 19, 2023

Math was my specialty—you spend enough time at the cash register and you learn to love numbers, because each and every one means dollars and cents, and enough of those mean business is booming.

From "City of the Plague God" by Sarwat Chadda