Meaning & use
shark in business
Last updated
Meaning
phrasecountableinformalfigurativedisapproving
A person who is ruthless and aggressive in business, often taking advantage of others.
Grammar: Used as a countable noun phrase: 'a shark in business' or 'sharks in business'.
Patterns
- a shark in business
- be a shark in business
- sharks in business
He's a shark in business; he'll do anything to close a deal.
She earned a reputation as a shark in business after buying out her rivals.
Don't try to negotiate with him—he's a real shark in business.
Word forms
| plural | sharks in business |
|---|
Common combinations
- a real shark in business
- Everyone says she's a real shark in business.
- be a shark in business
- If you want to succeed here, you have to be a shark in business.
- a shark in the business world
- He is known as a shark in the business world.
Synonyms and how they differ
- ruthless businessman
- This is a more literal description; 'shark in business' is a figurative, more colorful expression.
- shark
- When used alone in a business context, 'shark' can carry the same meaning, but the full phrase makes the context clear.
Opposites
Commonly confused: shark in business or loan shark?
shark in business vs loan shark
A loan shark is someone who lends money at illegal, very high interest rates. A shark in business is a broader, figurative term for a ruthless businessperson.
Practice
What does it mean if someone is called 'a shark in business'?
Choose one answer.
The phrase is figurative: a shark in business is ruthless and aggressive. It does not mean honest, literal work with sharks, or being new.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “shark in business”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.