Antonyms for do business


Grammar : Verb
Spell : biz-nis
Phonetic Transcription : ˈbɪz nɪs


Definition of do business

Origin :
  • Old English bisignes (Northumbrian) "care, anxiety, occupation," from bisig "careful, anxious, busy, occupied, diligent" (see busy (adj.)) + -ness. Middle English sense of "state of being much occupied or engaged" (mid-14c.) is obsolete, replaced by busyness.
  • Sense of "a person's work, occupation" is first recorded late 14c. (in late Old English bisig (adj.) appears as a noun with the sense "occupation, state of employment"). Meaning "what one is about at the moment" is from 1590s. Sense of "trade, commercial engagements" is first attested 1727. In 17c. it also could mean "sexual intercourse." Modern two-syllable pronunciation is 17c.
  • Business card first attested 1840; business letter from 1766. Business end "the practical or effective part" (of something) is American English, by 1874. Phrase business as usual attested from 1865. To mean business "be intent on serious action" is from 1856. To mind (one's) own business is from 1620s. Johnson's dictionary also has busiless "At leisure; without business; unemployed."
  • As in recompense : verb pay back, make restitution
  • As in remunerate : verb compensate, reward
  • As in bargain : verb negotiate terms of sale or agreement
  • As in truck : verb buy and sell
  • As in work : verb be employed; exert oneself
  • As in buy off : verb bribe someone in order to receive a favor
  • As in bribe : verb request silence, action, or inaction for money
  • As in cut a deal : verb make a deal
  • As in grease : verb bribe

Synonyms for do business

Based on : Thesaurus.com - Gutenberg.org - Dictionary.com - Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019