Giving the business

This phrase was first started sometime in the 1940's. It's origins are from the National Football League. It's exact origins are unknown but the term was used by players and coaches to describe what goes on during a pile up of players attempting to recover a fumble or a loose ball on the field. Players at the bottom of the pile would often resort to dirty, classless tactics in an attempt to recover the ball from another player while the referees were attempting to clear the pile to discover who had recovered the ball. Often times, players would resort to punching, kicking, scratching, grabbing an opposing players ball sac and squeezing, etc.... in the hopes that the player with the ball would give up the ball to try and stop the other player from "giving him the business". The phrase became known to the general public in 1986, during an NFL game between the Buffalo Bills and the New York Jets when referee Ben Dreith called a personal foul penalty on the Jets' Marty Lyons after he tackled Bills quarterback Jim Kelly to the ground and started to repeatedly punch him in the head. Dreith announced to the crowd: "We have a personal foul on number 99 of the defense — after he tackled the quarterback, he's giving him the business down there, that's a 15-yard penalty."

Player 1: "Who recovered the fumble? Did they make a call yet?"

Player 2: "Dunno. There still in the pile giving the business."

by Solomanium June 5, 2010

giving the business

punching someone in crotch.

the referee called a 15 yard penalty for giving the business.

by Zetseui December 29, 2007

Giving the Business

A general reference to a future salacious sexual act. Statements regarding 'the business' are frequently accompanied by a raised eyebrow.

"I am going to be giving the business to you right after I eat this oatmeal."

by Oatmeal123 October 12, 2011

Giving the Business

When a person disregards any courtesy toward a party and threatens use of authority, usually to combat an injustice done them.

"I found a hair in my taco at Taco bell and the lady at the register refused to give me a new one

"Damn dude, so what'd you do?"

"I asked to see the manager and started giving the business to him. Dude hooked me up with a $20 gift card and a free taco"

"Nice!"

by ratherdashing December 16, 2014

Giving the business

Giving the business is simply another word for sensually arousing and seducing and probbably fucking

I was in the damn back yard and I saw mother fuckin bobby giving the business to that bitch marie

by Bool kid February 15, 2019

Giving Squidward the business

The act of jacking off

1.) "Whoops, just walked in on some dude giving Squidward the business".

2.) "Give me a few minutes. Just gotta finish giving Squidward the business".

3.) "She left me blueballed so I had to give Squidward the business"

by CB and BC March 6, 2014

Giving someone the business

Giving someone a hard time or trouble. Often mis accredited to the 1986 football game call, but is actually a much older term.

For an earlier reference see "Twilight Zone - What you Need"

"Patience, thats another thing that you need Mr. Renard, patience"

"What are you doin, givin me the business!?!"

could be substituted for giving someone the business

by Tha Ape December 18, 2008