business end
The dangerous bit
The business end is the functional part of a tool or weapon—the part that does the work: the blade of a knife, the barrel of a gun, the bristles of a brush.
He found himself staring down the business end of a shotgun.
The phrase implies this is the part that matters, where the action happens.
Device for a task
- weaponInstrument for inflicting harm
- instrumentDevice for specific tasks
- deviceConstructed tool or machine
- apparatusEquipment for a task
mechanism · equipment · implement · working · operative · blade · barrel · muzzle
tool
Device for a task
- weaponInstrument for inflicting harm
- instrumentDevice for specific tasks
- deviceConstructed tool or machine
apparatus · mechanism · equipment · implement · working · operative · blade · barrel · muzzle · nozzle
sharp
Fine-edged, or astute
blade · cutting · piercing · fine · tapered · honed · aimed · directed · focused · targeted
lethal
Causing or capable of death
dangerous · treacherous · fatal · injury · menace · threat · peril · risk · unsafe · volatile
- liquidationliquidation, winding up, winding-up, liquidator, company closure