Meaning & use
unfinished business
Last updated
Meanings
phraseuncountable
Something important that you still have to deal with or settle before you can move on.
Grammar: Used as an uncountable noun phrase: we say 'I have unfinished business', never 'an unfinished business'.
Patterns
- have unfinished business
- unfinished business with someone
- settle unfinished business
I can't leave the company yet — I still have unfinished business here.
She called her old friend because she felt there was unfinished business between them.
After the argument, they both knew there was unfinished business to settle.
phraseuncountablefigurative
A past defeat or failure that someone still wants to put right.
Grammar: Often used in sport and competition, usually after 'have' or 'there is'.
Patterns
- have unfinished business with someone
- unfinished business at a place
The team has unfinished business with last year's champions.
He returned to the tournament with unfinished business after losing the final.
They see the rematch as a chance to deal with unfinished business.
Common combinations
- have unfinished business
- I have unfinished business with my old boss.
- unfinished business to settle
- There is still some unfinished business to settle between us.
- feel there is unfinished business
- She felt there was unfinished business and wanted to talk.
- come back with unfinished business
- The striker came back with unfinished business.
- leave unfinished business behind
- He wanted to leave no unfinished business behind when he retired.
Synonyms and how they differ
- loose ends
- Use 'loose ends' for small, practical things still to be finished; 'unfinished business' sounds more serious and personal.
- unresolved issue
- This is a neutral, formal way to talk about a problem not yet settled; 'unfinished business' is more emotional and idiomatic.
Opposites
Commonly confused: unfinished business or business?
unfinished business vs business
'Business' alone means work or trade; the full phrase 'unfinished business' means something personal or competitive that still needs settling.
Practice
Which sentence uses the phrase correctly?
Choose one answer.
The phrase is uncountable, so 'some unfinished business' is correct. 'An unfinished business' and 'unfinished businesses' wrongly treat it as a countable noun, and 'the unfinished business' suggests one particular thing already known to the listener.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “unfinished business”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.