piece of the action

A part of the profits or success from an activity. Once Sarah heard that Mel was starting a new software company, she decided she wanted a piece of the action and asked to be his business partner.

a piece of the action

INFORMAL or

a slice of the action

mainly BRITISH, INFORMAL

COMMON If someone wants a piece of the action or a slice of the action, they want to get involved in an activity which seems likely to be very successful or profitable. More than 27.3 million shares in mobile phone companies changed hands as dealers scrambled to get a piece of the action. Within five years, every car manufacturer was at it. The hatchback explosion had begun and everyone wanted a piece of the action. As the British rap scene grows in strength, the Americans are becoming keener to grab a slice of the action.

a piece (or slice) of the action

1 a share in the excitement of something. 2 a share in the profits from something. informal

a piece/slice of the ˈaction

(informal) a share or role in an interesting or exciting activity, especially in order to make money: Foreign firms will all want a piece of the action if the new airport goes ahead.

piece of the action, a

A share, usually meaning a financial share. This term originated as U.S. show business slang and referred from the 1920s on to investing in a production and thereby sharing in the profits. From the 1960s on it was transferred to other endeavors as well, as in Emma Lathen’s mystery Murder Without Icing (1972): “What’s it got to do with her if you sell your piece of the action?”