English

Noun

piece of the action ‎(usually uncountable, plural pieces of the action)

1. (idiomatic) A portion of the monetary gains or other benefits produced by some venture or activity; a share of participation in a venture or activity.
   • 1969, Mario Puzo, The Godfather, Google online preview:

     "Sollozzo is coming to us for help," Hagen said. . . . "For that we get a piece of the action."

   • 1997 June 29, David W. Dunlap, "The Sign Makers Turn Up the Wattage," New York Times (retrieved 9 Dec 2012):

     Landlords who were once content to lease rooftops or facades to sign companies now demand a piece of the action, in a joint venture or a limited partnership.

   • 2001 June 11, Tim Padgett and Elaine Shannon, "La Nueva Frontera: The Border Monsters," Time:

     There are two ways to get a piece of the action at any of the big drug markets along the border: pay off—or kill off—anyone who stands in your way.

   • 2003 April 7, Sonny Inbaraj, "Iraq: Australian Firms Eye Spoils of War in post-Saddam Era," Inter Press Service (retrieved 9 Dec 2012):

     Australian companies are already manoeuvring for a piece of the action in the reconstruction of Iraq,

Usage notes

• Originally used to refer especially to illegal or unwholesome activities, but now commonly used more broadly.

See also

• wet one's beak

References

• piece of the action at OneLook Dictionary Search