getting down to business
Beginning the work
Getting down to business means shifting from preliminaries to the main task at hand.
It marks the transition from small talk, planning, or delay to focused, productive work: Enough chitchat—let's get down to business.
The phrase implies seriousness and purpose, often signaling that social niceties are over and real work begins.
- concentrationSustained single-minded attention
- implementationPutting plans into effect
- heavy liftingArduous physical or mental exertion
- organizationStructured group with purpose
- follow-throughCompleting what you began
strategy · game plan · prioritization · accountability · determination · action items · brass tacks · nitty gritty · focus · nose to the grindstone · efficiency · scheduling · milestones · decision-making · cut to the chase · momentum · crunch time · all hands on deck
getting down to businessprocrastinating
Postponing what needs doing
wasting time · goofing off · killing time · dilly-dallying · dawdling
getting down to businesssocializing
Engaging with others recreationally
shooting the breeze · schmoozing · mingling · catching up · hanging out
getting down to businessbeating around the bush
Avoiding direct communication
stalling for time · hemming and hawing · dithering · hedging · equivocating
getting, downed, downing, downer, downwards, busier, busiest, business, businesses