50 Must-Know Phrasal Verbs for Business English (+ Examples)
In the fast-paced world of business, effective communication is key. Phrasal verbs—those tricky combinations of verbs and prepositions—are a huge part of professional conversations, emails, and meetings. In this article, we’ll cover 50 essential phrasal verbs for Business English, organized by common work contexts. Let’s dive in!
Phrasal Verbs for Meetings
These phrasal verbs will help you communicate clearly and effectively during business discussions.
1) Bring up: To introduce a topic
Let’s bring up the budget concerns in the next meeting.
2) Run through: To briefly explain or review
Let’s run through the presentation before the client arrives.
3) Wrap up: To finish or conclude
We’ll wrap up this meeting at 3 PM.
4) Follow up: To check or act on something after the initial discussion
Can you follow up on the marketing proposal with John?
5) Kick off: To start a meeting or event
We’ll kick off the project planning session at 10 AM.
Discover a New Language Adventure with Our App!
Immerse yourself in a vibrant world of language with our captivating content, featuring talented native speakers, thought-provoking podcasts on contemporary topics, and entertaining videos packed with handy phrases. You won’t just learn a new language; each lesson will feel like a thrilling adventure!
6) Call off: To cancel
The team decided to call off the meeting due to scheduling conflicts.
7) Go over: To review or discuss in detail
Let’s go over the numbers one more time.
8) Figure out: To find a solution
We need to figure out a way to cut costs.
9) Cut off: To interrupt someone
Sorry to cut you off, but we’re running out of time.
10) Touch on: To briefly mention
We’ll touch on the key challenges during the presentation.
Phrasal Verbs for Emails
Phrasal verbs make your emails sound professional yet natural.
11) Follow up: To remind or check in about something
I’m following up on my previous email regarding the project.
12) Get back to: To respond to someone
I’ll get back to you with the details by Friday.
13) Touch base: To check in or connect briefly
Let’s touch base next week to finalize the deal.
14) Send out: To distribute information
We’ll send out the revised contracts by tomorrow.
15) Bring in: To involve someone in a discussion
Let’s bring in the HR team to resolve this issue.
Speak with Confidence!
With native-speaker videos and interactive exercises, you’ll master real-world language skills faster and more effectively. Our immersive content helps you gain fluency, improve your pronunciation, and feel confident in any conversation!
16) Point out: To highlight something important
I just wanted to point out a typo in the document.
17) Put forward: To suggest or propose
I’d like to put forward a new idea for the campaign.
18) Follow through: To complete a task or commitment
Please follow through on updating the schedule.
19) Reach out: To contact someone
I’ll reach out to the supplier for an update.
20) Keep in the loop: To keep someone informed
Please keep me in the loop about the client’s feedback.
Phrasal Verbs for Negotiations
Master these verbs to handle workplace negotiations confidently.
21) Back down: To yield or concede
We won’t back down on our pricing policy.
22) Hold off: To delay taking action
Let’s hold off on signing the agreement until we get clarity.
23) Iron out: To resolve differences
We need to iron out the final details before proceeding.
24) Bring up: To raise a point or issue
He brought up concerns about the timeline during negotiations.
25) Come to: To reach an agreement
After hours of discussion, we came to a consensus.
26) Break down: To analyze in detail
Let’s break down the cost structure before deciding.
27) Step in: To intervene
The manager stepped in to mediate the dispute.
28) Push back: To resist or delay
The supplier pushed back on the revised terms.
29) Lay out: To present clearly
They laid out their proposal during the negotiation.
30) Give in: To reluctantly agree
We eventually gave in to their demands for a faster delivery.
Phrasal Verbs for Workplace Dynamics
These verbs help you discuss roles, responsibilities, and changes.
31) Step up: To take responsibility or initiative
She stepped up to lead the project when no one else did.
32) Take over: To assume control
He will take over as team leader starting next month.
33) Cut back: To reduce
We need to cut back on expenses this quarter.
34) Fill in: To substitute for someone
Can you fill in for me at the meeting?
35) Hand over: To transfer responsibility
I’ll hand over the project to Sarah once it’s completed.
36) Keep up: To maintain performance or pace
You’re doing great—keep up the good work!
37) Catch up: To get up to speed or reach the same level
I need to catch up on the latest reports.
38) Call out: To highlight a mistake or issue
She called out an error in the financial statement.
39) Work out: To solve or resolve
We’re trying to work out a solution for the staffing issue.
40) Deal with: To handle a situation or problem
We’ll deal with customer complaints after the meeting.
Miscellaneous Phrasal Verbs
Versatile verbs that fit various business contexts.
41) Carry on: To continue
Let’s carry on with the discussion after lunch.
42) Sort out: To organize or resolve
We need to sort out the travel arrangements soon.
43) Bring down: To reduce
We need to bring down our costs to stay competitive.
44) Look into: To investigate
I’ll look into the issue and get back to you.
45) Turn down: To reject
We had to turn down the client’s offer.
46) Put off: To delay
Can we put off the meeting until tomorrow?
47) Move forward: To proceed
We can move forward once everyone agrees.
48) Sign off: To approve
The manager needs to sign off on the proposal first.
49) Set up: To establish or arrange
Can you set up a meeting with the new client?
50) Follow up: To ensure action is taken
I’ll follow up with the team to confirm the next steps.
Conclusion
Knowing phrasal verbs for Business English can level up your career in an English-speaking workplace. Start using these 50 verbs in your emails, meetings, and daily conversations to sound more natural and confident. Do you have a favorite business phrasal verb? Share it in the comments!
Get Serious About Learning English!
Get Ready for Your Next Trip, Business Meeting, or Exam! With native-speaker videos, flexible 24/7 learning, and tools to sharpen your listening and pronunciation skills, you’ll be fully prepared for any situation—whether it’s travel, work, or advancing your career in a foreign language!