business ends
The functional portions
The business ends are the functional or dangerous parts of tools, weapons, or implements—the blade of a knife, the barrel of a gun, the teeth of a saw.
The phrase distinguishes the working portion from the handle or grip: He pointed the business end of the rifle at the intruder.
By extension, it can mean the serious or consequential aspect of any situation.
- pointsUnits of tally
- sharp endPenetrating extremity of object
- pointy endSharp extremity of object
- capitalismPrivate profit-based economy
- means of productionTools and facilities for manufacturing
corporate · board meeting · hostile takeover · commerce · weapons · tools · edges · finance · economics · bottom line · bayonets · enterprise · industry · market · company · trade · firm · venture
business, ends, busily, busyness, businessman, businesswoman, businesslike, ending, endless