business end


Also found in: Idioms.

business end

n.
The part of a weapon or tool, usually at the front, that inflicts damage or performs work.
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

business end

n
informal the part of a tool or weapon that does the work, as contrasted with the handle
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

busi′ness end`


n.
the front part or end of a tool, weapon, etc., with which the work is done or from which a missile is ejected.
[1875–80]
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.
References in classic literature ?
The business end of the funeral of the late Sir Dalliance the duke's son of Cornwall, killed in an encounter with the Giant of the Knotted Bludgeon last Tuesday on the borders of the Plain of Enchantment was in the hands of the ever affable and efficient Mumble, prince of un3ertakers, then whom there exists none by whom it were a more satisfying pleasure to have the last sad offices performed.
"The business end of a buckshot cartridge!" cried the man with a loud laugh.
Their business ended, the three gentlemen hastened back to the lodgings of Mr Swiveller, whom they found progressing so favourably in his recovery as to have been able to sit up for half an hour, and to have conversed with cheerfulness.
The gold may not be so soft as it appears, but it certainly looks as though you could bite off the business ends of the spoons, and stop your own teeth in doing so.
However, on the flip side, many enterprise CIOs have still to announce and formulate a well-defined cloud strategy for their internal IT and business end users.
Despite being on the business end of a gun every now and then, cryptocurrencies are getting a respite in the form of Facebook allowing crypto ads after a ban.
Cockerill says the powerful centre is required in the Scottish capital for the "business end of the season" with Gunners.
Summary: Ansar did Ahed the ultimate favor Saturday, holding archrivals Nejmeh to a goalless draw to seriously damage their title ambitions as the business end of the season approaches.
And Bramall Lane boss Wilder (right) said: "Anything can happen in this league and the games are going to become even tighter as we go into the business end of the campaign.
Much of the growth is on the business end. The number of promoters of performing arts, sports and similar events grew by 30 percent between 2010 and 2014 while agents and managers for artists, athletes, entertainers and other public figures grew by 17 percent.

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