Meaning & use
double breasting
Last updated
Meanings
noununcountablebusinesstechnical
A business practice where a company operates two separate entities, often to avoid union agreements or labor laws.
Grammar: Uncountable: used without 'a' or plural.
Patterns
- double breasting
- engage in double breasting
The construction company was accused of double breasting to avoid paying union wages.
Double breasting allows a firm to run a unionized and a non-unionized branch side by side.
New regulations aim to stop double breasting in the building industry.
noununcountabletechnical
The overlapping of two edges of fabric, as on a double-breasted jacket.
Grammar: Uncountable: refers to the style or method, not a countable item.
Patterns
- double breasting
- double breasting of a jacket
The tailor explained the double breasting used in classic naval coats.
Double breasting gives the jacket a formal, structured look.
Common combinations
- accused of double breasting
- The firm was accused of double breasting to cut costs.
- double breasting in the construction industry
- Double breasting in the construction industry is a controversial practice.
- avoid double breasting
- The new law aims to avoid double breasting by requiring transparency.
Synonyms and how they differ
- dual shop
- A related but narrower term for a workplace with both union and non-union workers.
Word family
- double-breasted adjective
- Describing a jacket or coat with two overlapping front panels.
Commonly confused: double breasting or double crossing?
double breasting vs double crossing
Double crossing means betraying someone, while double breasting is a business or tailoring term.
Practice
In a business context, what does 'double breasting' refer to?
Choose one answer.
In business, double breasting means running two separate entities, often to avoid union agreements. The jacket meaning is a tailoring term, and 'betraying' is 'double crossing'.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “double breasting”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.