The saying "all this business about..."

[bandit957]

Is this a common expression in your area, or is it just a northern Kentucky or greater Cincinnati thing?

Around here, we say things like "all this toilet business" or "all this mask business" or "all this business about 'Sesame Street'", even when it has nothing to do with a business. It's like another word for "stuff." I remember one time in elementary school, the teacher said something about "all this bubble gum business."

How common is this? Is this saying regional, or is it everywhere in the English-speaking world?

[hotdogPi]

I hear it here.

[kphoger]

even when it has nothing to do with a business. It's like another word for "stuff."

It is.  That's one of the things "business" means.

business

  noun, often attributive

  busi·​ness | \ ˈbiz-nəs  , -nəz, Southern also ˈbid-  \



Definition of business

  3: AFFAIR, MATTER

    the whole business got out of hand
    business as usual

  4a: personal concern

    none of your business

  b: RIGHT

    you have no business speaking to me that way

[Scott5114]

Is this a common expression in your area, or is it just a northern Kentucky or greater Cincinnati thing?

Around here, we say things like "all this toilet business" ... even when it has nothing to do with a business.

Do you think the CEO of American Standard goes into work and greets the secretary with "So what's all this toilet business?" "Sir, we just landed a major contract to replace the bathroom fixtures at the Cleveland Browns stadium..."

[kphoger]

Do you think the CEO of American Standard goes into work and greets the secretary with "So what's all this toilet business?" "Sir, we just landed a major contract to replace the bathroom fixtures at the Cleveland Browns stadium..."

Is that some veiled reference to the Browns being a crappy team?

[GCrites]

You know what's a big Cincinnati-ism? Calling something that is gross, "foul". Also saying thing like "This is a darts bar!" or "It's a gas station. What do you expect?" with the last part of the sentence being in a higher pitch than the beginning.

[kevinb1994]

You know what's a big Cincinnati-ism? Calling something that is gross, "foul". Also saying thing like "This is a darts bar!" or "It's a gas station. What do you expect?" with the last part of the sentence being in a higher pitch than the beginning.

I can easily relate to the gas station one, being from the northeast, and it may very well be a Joisey thing.