approaching the business end of the season

[hannu]

English Language Tests, Intermediate level

ESL/EFL Test #179 "Doing business: expressions with the word business", question 6

"Well here we are rapidly approaching the ......... of the season."

(a) business card
(b) business park
(c) business end
(d) business suit

English Language Tests, Intermediate level

ESL/EFL Test #179 "Doing business: expressions with the word business", answer 6

"Well here we are rapidly approaching the business end of the season."

Correct answer: (c) business end

Your answer was: correct
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Why business end?
Thank you.
hannu

[Mister Micawber]

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I have no idea. It does not sound like American English to me.
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Native English teacher at Mister Micawber's

[Torsten]

Hi Charles,

What is the American equivalent to the expression 'business end of the season'?
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Test Of English for International Communication
TOEIC Preparation & TOEIC Vocabulary

[Mister Micawber]

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Hello Torsten,

Frankly, I can't figure out what this means. The business end of something (e.g. a gun or tool) is the end where the bullet comes out or the effect is produced.

But the business end of a season? Does it mean the end of the business season?-- that is, the slack season or the off season?

Just a guess.
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_________________
Native English teacher at Mister Micawber's

[Torsten]

Have you tried googling the phrase?
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Test Of English for International Communication
TOEIC Preparation & TOEIC Vocabulary

[Yankee]

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I'm not familiar with the expression "the business end of the season" either. The test sentence itself doesn't actually provide any contextual clues as to whether the meaning is similar to "business end of a gun/tool" or whether the meaning is similar to "the end of business in a particular season" (and/or what sort of business is being referred to).

I have now googled the phrase, and if the Google results are any indication, this expression seems to be used in the UK in connection with the part of the soccer season that is decisive.
.

[Yankee]

By the way, I agree with sentence 5 in this test -- mainly because it would be extremely rare indeed to hear anyone in the US use the word 'waistcoat'. We like to call those things 'vests'.
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