meant business
Was genuinely determined
To mean business is to be serious about one's intentions, especially when others might doubt your resolve.
Someone who means business isn't joking, bluffing, or making idle threats: When she showed up with a lawyer, we knew she meant business.
The past tense often appears in narration: The look on his face said he meant business.
- dead seriousAbsolutely not joking
- follow-throughCompleting what you began
- seriousnessEarnest, weighty demeanor
- no jokeEmphatic assertion of sincerity
- resolveFirmness of purpose
determination · game face · assertiveness · earnestness · grit · take no prisoners · confrontation · play hardball · persistence · hardball · put up or shut up · purposefulness · ultimatum · draw the line · lay down the law · conviction · decision-making · no-nonsense
meant businessjoking around
Playful, unserious behavior
just kidding · fooling around · messing around · playing around · not serious
meant businessbluffing
Deceiving about one's position
all talk · full of hot air · crying wolf · all bark and no bite · talking big
meant businessphoning it in
Performing without genuine commitment
going through the motions · coasting · slacking off · taking it easy
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