# stage business

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/stage-business
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

Actions performed by an actor on stage done for dramatic effect; especially, action carried out with a prop or piece of clothing, usually away from the focus of the scene, with or without any dialogue.

## Examples

- The actor used clever stage business to keep the audience interested.
- During the long monologue, the lead actor used subtle stage business with his pocket watch to show his character's growing anxiety.
- The director praised the performer for incorporating intricate stage business, which added a layer of domestic realism to an otherwise static scene.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.