mean business | Idiomator

Meaning: (idiomatic,used to convey serious intent)To beserious, especially where achieving a specific end against opposition is concerned.1895, William Chambers, Robert Chambers,Chambers's journal:Say in a week from now, I will undertake to deliver this most marvellous masterpiece, if 'Look here, 'Tony, Imean business, if you don't.1997,George Carlin,Brain Droppings‎[1],New York:Hyperion Books,→ISBN,→LCCN,→OCLC,→OL,page102:Lorena Bobbit only did what men do to each other all the time: She showed an asshole shemeant business.2002, Armando T. Atienza,Shrewd Business Tactics:He projects his concern to all employees and hemeans businesswhen he says the “buck stops here”.

Examples:

EN: You look out for yourselves, for, begod, after this morning, I mean business.
ES: Será mejor que se anden con ojo a partir de ahora.
EN: - What are you doing? - Showing you I mean business.
ES: - ¿Qué crees que estás haciendo?
EN: We mean business!
ES: ¡Un trato es un trato!
EN: You don't think we mean business?
ES: ¿No se lo cree, eh?
EN: Action'll tell 'em we mean business.
ES: Con la acción sabrán que hablamos en serio.
EN: We're in for trouble because these fellas mean business. They're trying to have you indicted for buying this opera house with erie funds.
ES: No me importa que no te guste, pero no vuelvas a mencionarla.
EN: And we'll figure a way to make Trent Talcott know we mean business.
ES: Y veremos un modo de hacer que Trent Talcott sepa que vamos en serio.
EN: It looks as if you mean business, inspector.
ES: - Parece que va en serio.
EN: Looks as if they mean business.
ES: Esto se pone feo.
ES: Esto se pone feo.
EN: Those fellows mean business.
ES: Estos tipos van en serio.
EN: - Huh? - Listen, Jim, we mean business.
ES: - ¿Estás con nosotros, Jim?
EN: - Now we mean business.
ES: - Ahora va en serio.
EN: Wherever they're going, they mean business.
ES: Ellos van donde hay trabajo.
EN: - You sure sound like you mean business.
ES: - Parece que vas en serio. - Así es.
EN: - You sure sound like you mean business. - I do.
ES: - Parece que vas en serio.

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