business has called

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "business has called" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that work or professional obligations have arisen, requiring attention or action. Example: "I would love to join you for dinner, but business has called, and I have to attend a meeting."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

Stepping into one of the warehouses is to discover what more than one person in the antiques business has called the best-kept secret in Fairfield County.

The New York Times

Colin Tweedy, the chief executive of Arts and Business, has called on arts organisations to increase their private funding in a time of public cuts.

The Guardian - Opinion

Gerry Dawes, who has been writing about Spanish wines for decades and who recently went into the importing business, has called godello "Spain's emerging hope as an equivalent to the great white Burgundies".

The New York Times - Food

"I think the secretary for business has called that one properly.

BBC

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

At a news conference in Lower Manhattan, Ms. Pirro noted that Mr. Cuomo, in a meeting with editors at Crain's New York Business, had called the notion of amnesty for businesses involved in Medicaid fraud "intriguing".

The New York Times

International signatories from the spheres of journalism, publishing, film, theatre and business have called on Angola's president, José Eduardo dos Santos, to drop the charges against investigative journalist Rafael Marques de Morais.

The Guardian

"I think the BBC, from the way that they handled this appalling business, have called into question not just the competence of senior executives or the chairman of the trust [Lord Patten] but they've called into question the entire governance of the BBC," Isaacs told The Media Show on BBC Radio 4 on Wednesday.

The Guardian

Joe Carroll, the owner of all three businesses, has called St. Anselm a blue-collar steakhouse.

The New York Times

Jeff Bezos, the founder of Amazon.com, one of the Internet's biggest businesses, has called for a curtailed patent regime after a public appeal from a smaller competitor.Cyberspace is not the libertarian paradise that early enthusiasts claimed.

The Economist

In recent days Karachi businesses have called for the army to restore order.

The Economist

Respected advocates like Tim Tompkins, the president of the Times Square Alliance, which represents local businesses, have called for similar forms of regulation.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "business has called", briefly explain the nature of the obligation if appropriate, to provide context and demonstrate your commitment to both work and social engagements.

Common error

Avoid using "business has called" in highly informal situations, as it can sound overly formal or even humorous. Opt for simpler, more casual phrases like "I need to head to work" or "something came up at the office."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "business has called" functions as an idiomatic expression used to politely indicate that work or professional obligations require one's attention, often necessitating departure from a current situation. Ludwig confirms the validity and usability of this phrase.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Formal & Business

25%

Science

25%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "business has called" is a grammatically correct and usable phrase, though relatively rare in occurrence. As confirmed by Ludwig, it functions as a polite idiom to indicate that work obligations require one's attention, typically necessitating a departure. While it appears most frequently in news and business-related contexts, it is best suited for neutral to semi-formal situations. Overusing it in casual settings can sound stilted. Alternative phrases like "work demands my attention" or "duty calls" might be more appropriate in some instances.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

work demands my attention

Focuses on the obligation to work.

professional duties require my presence

More formal, emphasizing professional responsibilities.

duty calls

A shorter, more idiomatic expression conveying the same meaning.

I have work commitments

Highlights existing work obligations.

urgent matters need addressing

Emphasizes the urgency of the situation.

my job requires me elsewhere

Highlights the obligation to the job.

the office needs me

Informal, anthropomorphizing the workplace.

responsibilities are pulling me away

Highlights the obligations that are making you leave.

I'm needed at work

Short and direct expression.

a meeting has come up

Specifies the kind of event that is obligating you to leave.

FAQs

How can I use "business has called" in a sentence?

You can use "business has called" to politely excuse yourself, implying that work demands your attention. For example, "I'd love to stay longer, but business has called, and I need to attend a meeting."

What can I say instead of "business has called"?

You can use alternatives like "work demands my attention", "duty calls", or "I have work commitments" depending on the context.

Is it appropriate to use "business has called" in casual conversation?

While grammatically correct, "business has called" might sound overly formal in casual settings. Consider using simpler alternatives like "I need to go to work" or "something came up".

What's the difference between "business has called" and "I have to go to work"?

"Business has called" is a more polite and indirect way of saying "I have to go to work". It implies that your work obligations are unexpectedly requiring your attention. It is frequently interpreted as a euphemism.