Mind your business meaning in English
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Definition
Mind your (own) business!: Do not ask questions about, or involve yourself in, things which do not concern you!
Examples
- "Host : Hello and welcome to Mind Your Business - the quiz show where we invite the best minds of Corporate America to answer questions on absolutely anything!"
- "Join us tomorrow for another edition of Mind your Business!"
- "Everyone minds his business."
Exercise 1
"What did you have in mind?"
Find the meaning of this, and other "mind" idioms!
What did you have in mind? -->
He speaks his mind -->
Mind your own business! -->
Find the meaning of this, and other "mind" idioms!
What did you have in mind? -->
He speaks his mind -->
Mind your own business! -->
"What did you have in mind?"
Find the meaning of this, and other "mind" idioms!
What did you have in mind? --> What are your ideas? 1
He speaks his mind --> He talks frankly 2
Mind your own business! --> This doesn't concern you! 3
Find the meaning of this, and other "mind" idioms!
What did you have in mind? --> What are your ideas? 1
He speaks his mind --> He talks frankly 2
Mind your own business! --> This doesn't concern you! 3
1 What are your ideas?: "What do/did you have in mind?" means "What are you thinking?". This idiom is commonly used to ask about people's ideas. In the dialogue, Hannah suggests that Bruno's party should take place in "a more unusual venue (=location)". Brian asks Hannah, "What did you have in mind?" to make Hannah explain her idea further.
1 What's worrying you?: If someone is worried or anxious, we would more probably ask, "What's ON your mind?". If you have something (or someone) "on your mind" then you are thinking and worrying about it (or them) a lot. Example: It's my driving test tomorrow - it's been on my mind all day.
1 What drugs have you been doing?: Oops! "What did you have in mind?" is not used to ask about what drugs someone has been doing!
2 He talks frankly: If you "speak your mind", you speak frankly, saying exactly what you think in a very direct manner. Example: Philip might sometimes offend people in meetings, but at least he speaks his mind.
2 He talks a lot: "To speak your mind" is not to "speak a lot".
2 He's arrogant: "To speak your mind" is not to be "arrogant".
3 This doesn't concern you!: If something is "your business", it is your responsibility or it concerns you. "To mind" is to be careful about something (Example: Mind your head!). The common idiom "mind your own business" means "look after you own affairs and don't ask questions (or be curious) about things that don't concern you". Example: -How old are you, grandma? -Mind your own business!
3 Go into business for yourself!: "Mind your own business" is not a suggestion that you should start your own business or commercial enterprise!
3 Look after your belongings!: "Mind your own business" is not used to encourage people to look after their things or belongings.
Exercise 2
Choose the correct office terms and expressions to complete the dialogue below. Not all of the terms were used in the dialogue.
Brian: There's a troupe of clowns . They say they have with you.
Bruno: Ok, you can .
Bruno: Hi guys. Thanks for coming today. .
Brian: There's a troupe of clowns . They say they have with you.
Bruno: Ok, you can .
Bruno: Hi guys. Thanks for coming today. .
Choose the correct office terms and expressions to complete the dialogue below. Not all of the terms were used in the dialogue.
Brian: There's a troupe of clowns here to see you 1. They say they have an appointment 2 with you.
Bruno: Ok, you can send them in 3.
Bruno: Hi guys. Thanks for coming today. Let's get down to business 4.
Brian: There's a troupe of clowns here to see you 1. They say they have an appointment 2 with you.
Bruno: Ok, you can send them in 3.
Bruno: Hi guys. Thanks for coming today. Let's get down to business 4.
1 here to see you: This is the right answer. We often use the expression "there's someone here to see you" when we want to inform a colleague that they have a visitor. In the dialogue, Brian tells Bruno "there's someone here to see you".
1 expecting: This isn't the best answer here. To "expect" something is to "wait for it, with certainty that it will happen". If we say that a woman is "expecting", we mean that she is pregnant (expecting a baby). Neither of these meanings makes sense here.
1 on hold: This isn't the best answer here. If someone is "on hold", they are waiting on the telephone to be connected. Often, we listen to very bad music while we are "on hold". It's not possible to be "on hold" in person: only on the telephone.
2 an appointment: "Appointment" is the best choice here. To "have an appointment with someone" is to have a "scheduled or pre-arranged meeting" with them. Example: "I have an appointment with the doctor on Friday, so I'll have to leave work early".
2 a schedule: The term "schedule" doesn't make sense here. A "schedule" is a plan that lists things to be done and when they should be done. Example: "I have a very busy schedule today: I need to conduct 6 interviews and organise all my files before 7pm".
2 an agenda: The term "agenda" doesn't make sense here. An "agenda" is a list of topics which will be discussed at a meeting. Example: "The first item on the agenda is the coffee machine. So, do you think it makes good coffee?".
3 send them in: "Send them in" is the best choice here. To "send someone in" is to let them enter a room. In the dialogue, Brian asks Bruno "Should I send her in?". He is asking Bruno's permission to let this visitor enter Bruno's office.
3 give them to me: This isn't an appropriate choice here. This is a rather impolite expression used if you want someone to give you some objects.
3 push them through: This isn't an appropriate choice here. To "push (something) through" means to force it through something else. Example: "The car broke down and we had to push it through the tunnel". This expression can also be used figuratively: "The Prime Minister pushed through the legislation despite public protests".
4 Let's get down to business: This is the best expression here. "Let's get down to business" means "let's begin talking about the important issue, subject, or matter". It makes sense to use this expression at the start of a meeting.
4 Mind your own business: "Mind your own business" doesn't make sense here. If you tell someone to "mind their own business", you are telling them to stop interfering in your personal affairs.
4 It was a pleasure doing business with you: "It was a pleasure doing business with you" doesn't make sense here. This expression is used to conclude a business deal or negotiation, or an exchange of goods.
4 I make it my business: "I make it my business" doesn't make sense here. We could say "I make it my business to personally oversee all my company's advertisements". This expression means "I see it as my role/obligation/job to do something".
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