Get down to Business Idiom: Meaning, Origin, Usage & Exercises

As an IELTS candidate or someone working hard to fulfil their professional ambition, you must be determined to achieve something or complete a task successfully. This demonstration of urgency, dedication, and hard work is expressed by the idiom, get down to business. Unlike vague phrases like ‘start now’, this idiom conveys readiness, intent, and a no-nonsense approach, the kind of expression that signals maturity and fluency to IELTS examiners.

In this blog post, we will explore the meaning, origin, and usage of the idiom ‘get down to business’, and provide examples, especially for IELTS Speaking.

Get down to Business Idiom: Meaning

The idiom ‘get down to business’ means to begin working on something seriously and with purpose, especially after preliminary discussion or delay. It implies a transition from informal interaction to focused action.

Origin of Get down to Business Idiom

The idiom ‘get down to business’ emerged from business and negotiation culture, likely in the late 19th to early 20th century. Participants in meetings or discussions used the phrase to signal a shift from social interaction to addressing the key agenda. 

Get down to Business Idiom Usage

Listed below are a few examples of how the idiom, get down to business, can be used in daily conversations.

• The manager ordered everyone to roll up their sleeve and get down to business.
• Once everyone gathers at the conference hall, we can get down to business and start the presentation.
• The new boss directed the employees to forget all the formalities and get down to business.
• The teacher asked the students to stop laughing and get down to business.
• Since the election is approaching fast, the government will get down to business.

Use of Get down to Business Idiom in Scenarios

You will find some examples where the idiom, get down to business, has been used in different scenarios.

Scenario 1:

• John: When will the project work start? It’s already an hour.
• Rose: Soon after the introduction, we’ll get down to business.

Scenario 2:

• Mother: Rose, come on, stop idling away your time and help me out in cleaning the kitchen.
• Rose: 2 minutes, Mom, check out this latest news of introducing smart cars.
• Mother: Rose, we can check it once the work is done, so you better get down to business now.
• Rose: Okay, I will!

Scenario 3:

The teacher enters the classroom when she sees the students chatting.

• Teacher: Students, the interval is over, so get down to business and open your book.
• Students: Okay! Ma’am.

Get down to Business Idiom: Synonyms and Related Phrases

In the table below, you will find some of the best phrases to use in IELTS Speaking related to the idiom ‘get down to business’.

Get down to Business Idiom: Detailed Usage in IELTS Contexts

Explore a few different ways in which the idiom ‘get down to business’ can be applied effectively across IELTS contexts through the sample answers given below.

IELTS Speaking Part 2

• Cue Card Topic: Describe a meeting you had.
• Answer Excerpt: "I once attended a team meeting where everyone was talking casually at first. But once the manager joined, we quickly got down to business and discussed our project deadlines."

IELTS Speaking Part 3

• Question: How should people begin working effectively on group projects?
• Answer: “Initially, it is normal to get into casual chats or planning. But once everyone is on board, it’s key to get down to business - assign roles and establish deadlines. That method ensures productivity and clarity.”

Get down to Business Idiom: Practice Exercise

The following exercises will guide you on how to properly use the idiom 'get down to business' and show you how to apply it appropriately.

1 What does 'get down to business' mean?

A To stop working and take a break

B To start discussing the main topic seriously

C To open a new business

D To gossip during a meeting

2 Which sentence uses the idiom correctly?

A Let’s get down to business after the lunch break.

B I got down to business by painting the walls blue.

C He got down to business by sleeping early.

D She gets down to business by shopping online.

3 Choose the situation where ‘get down to business’ would be appropriate.

A A teacher chatting casually with students

B Friends joking at a birthday party

C A project team starting the formal part of a meeting

D A family planning a vacation

4 When is it inappropriate to ‘get down to business’?

A During an informal dinner with friends

B In a boardroom meeting

C At a job interview

D While discussing project details

5 Which of these is closest in meaning to ‘get down to business’?

A Start wasting time

B Begin serious work

C Delay the meeting

D Leave the workplace

Get down to Business Idiom: Answer Key for Practice Exercise

1 B

2 A

3 C

4 A

5 B

To conclude, the idiom ‘get down to business’ is a powerful phrase that communicates a shift from distraction to efficiency, perfect for professional, academic, and IELTS contexts. When you use this idiom strategically, you are showcasing the mindset and language expected of high-scoring IELTS candidates. So, use the idiom, get down to business, and other similar useful idioms for IELTS Speaking to score band 8.0+. 

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