Mastering Business English: 12 Essential Phrasal Verbs for Professional Communication
- Catherine
- Apr 1
- 4 min read
Updated: Apr 5
In today's interconnected world, strong communication skills in English are no longer optional; they are essential for professionals in all industries. Phrasal verbs play a crucial role in everyday business English dialogue, helping you articulate your thoughts and ideas effectively. In this post, we will highlight twelve essential phrasal verbs that can sharpen your business English, making it easier to connect with colleagues, clients, and partners.
12 Phrasal Verbs for Business English;
1. Bring Up
To "bring up" means to introduce a new topic into a conversation. This is particularly useful during meetings when you want to direct the discussion.
For example, you might say, "I'd like to bring up our sales figures from the last quarter, which increased by 15% over the previous three months." This adds substance to your statement and provides context. This can be used outside of business English situations as well, for example a difficult conversation with a partner or friend.
2. Follow Up
"Follow up" indicates checking in on a previous action or discussion. It shows your dedication to ensuring that tasks are completed.
You might say, "I will follow up with you next week regarding the project’s progress. Last quarter, 70% of our projects were completed on time, so I'll make sure we stay on track."
3. Get Ahead
To "get ahead" signifies achieving success or progress in a competitive environment. It is especially relevant in career advancement discussions.
For instance, "To get ahead in your career, you should focus on developing leadership skills, as studies show that employees who pursue ongoing training are 40% more likely to receive promotions."
4. Look Into
When you "look into" something, you investigate it further. This is helpful when responding to inquiries or addressing concerns.
For example, "I will look into the client's feedback on our recent service and respond promptly. It is important to note that clients who feel their concerns are heard are 50% more likely to remain loyal."
5. Come Up With
To "come up with" means to generate ideas or solutions, often important during brainstorming sessions.
You might say, "We need to come up with innovative marketing strategies that could increase customer engagement by at least 20% over the next six months."
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6. Cut Back
"Cut back" refers to reducing expenses or resource allocation. This is critical in budgeting talks.
For example, "We're planning to cut back on office supplies, which could save us $5,000 annually. This will allow us to allocate more funds toward employee training programs."
7. Set Up
To "set up" means to organize or arrange something, such as a meeting or system.
An example could be, "Let’s set up a meeting next week to discuss our timeline for the upcoming project. If we act quickly, we can increase our chances of finishing at least two weeks ahead of schedule."
8. Take Over
To "take over" means to assume control or responsibility for something, such as a project or role.
You might state, "She will take over my responsibilities during my maternity leave, which includes managing the team and overseeing project deliverables."
9. Go Over
"Go over" means to review or examine something carefully. This is particularly useful for coordinating presentations.
For instance, "Let’s go over the presentation slides before our client meeting tomorrow. Last time, we had some misunderstandings due to unclear bullet points."
10. Turn Down
To "turn down" means to reject an offer or request. This often comes into play during negotiations.
You might say, "I had to turn down the proposal because it would exceed our budget by 30%, but I appreciate the effort put into it."
11. Give Up
"Give up" means to stop attempting or relinquish a pursuit. This can signal a need to reassess strategies.
For example, "We shouldn’t give up; instead, let’s rethink our approach. In recent feedback surveys, 80% of participants reported wanting improved communication from the team."
12. Run Out Of
To "run out of" means to deplete a resource. In business, this often refers to supplies or budgets.
You might say, "We must reorder supplies before we run out of stock. Last month, we faced a 25% delay in production when we ran out of materials unexpectedly."
Integrating these twelve phrasal verbs into your business conversations can dramatically improve your clarity and relatability. Whether discussing budgets, organizing meetings, or presenting ideas, these expressions will enhance the impact of your communication.
Understanding these phrases not only broadens your vocabulary but also aids in adopting a more natural English speaking style. Pay attention to how these phrasal verbs are used in conversations and business discussions, as this will help you incorporate them into your own speech.
Closing Thoughts
Improving your business English skills is a smart investment in your career. Mastering phrasal verbs is a crucial step toward this goal, as they form the backbone of fluid communication. The twelve phrasal verbs discussed here will provide a solid foundation to make your discussions more impactful and engaging.
As you become comfortable with these expressions, practice using them in context. Recognizing that fluency comes from using words naturally will make your conversations flow more easily. Stay engaged, keep learning, and watch as your business English proficiency flourishes!
If you are interested in learning more about business English and workplace communication you can check out my 12 week course on Udemy - Learn More
Your journey to mastering business English through these essential phrasal verbs begins here!
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