piece of the action

plural pieces of the action

1. idiomaticA portion of the monetary gains or other benefits produced by some venture or activity; a share of participation in a venture or activity.

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

   1969, Mario Puzo, The Godfather

   3 more examples

   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.

   1997 June 29, David W. Dunlap, “The Sign Makers Turn Up the Wattage”, in New York Times, retrieved 09 Dec 2012

   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.

   2001 June 11, Tim Padgett, Elaine Shannon, “La Nueva Frontera: The Border Monsters”, in Time

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

   2003 April 7, Sonny Inbaraj, “Iraq: Australian Firms Eye Spoils of War in post-Saddam Era”, in Inter Press Service, retrieved 09 Dec 2012