business is business

business is business

A phrase that emphasizes business decisions as completely separate from emotions or personal issues. You're only being traded because the team needs to dump some salaries. It's nothing personal—business is business.
See also: business
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

ˌbusiness is ˈbusiness

a way of saying that financial and commercial matters are the important things to consider and you should not be influenced by friendship, etc: He’s a nice guy but business is business. He owes us money and he’ll have to pay it back.
See also: business
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary
See also:
  • a word to the wise
  • word to the wise
  • word to the wise, a
  • better left unsaid
  • according to Gunter
  • all for one, and one for all
  • one for all, (and) all for one
  • talk through the back of (one's) neck
  • take a dump
  • mortal
References in classic literature
Business is business, and should be done in a business way.
The first lesson of course is that business is business, and a professional sport is all business, and don't you forget it.