business before pleasure

business before pleasure

proverb Work or responsibilities should be addressed before fun. I would much rather play video games than study, but business before pleasure, I guess.
See also: before, business, pleasure
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

Business before pleasure.

Prov. You should finish your work before starting to relax and enjoy yourself. Alan: Hi, Ted. Shall we get something to drink? Ted: Business before pleasure, Alan. Do you have the reports I asked you to bring? I'd love to go water-skiing with you now, but I have a few things to do in the office first. Business before pleasure, I'm afraid.
See also: before, business, pleasure
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.
See also:
  • teach a man to fish
  • it takes a village
  • village
  • best-laid plans go astray, the
  • the best-laid plans
  • the best-laid plans go astray
  • the best-laid plans of mice and men
  • for want of a nail
  • For want of a nail the shoe was lost; for want of a shoe the horse ...
  • a bad workman blames his tools
References in periodicals archive
Mr Cameron said: "The Labour guy...because it's business before pleasure."
Anger over Cam's sick suicide gag