biz, the biz

n

a.

show business. A term used by the self-consciously theatrical, originating as 'show biz' in the style of journalese popularised by Variety magazine.

b.

any sphere of activity, such as the music biz, the public relations biz, etc., by extension from the first sense. It is often used ironically to add a sheen of cheap glamour to difficult or thoroughly mundane jobs. In the company of cognoscenti, any such group may be referred to as the biz.

c.

a term of approbation, as in 'this is the biz' or 'he's the biz'