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Mastering Business English: 30 Essential Phrasal Verbs for Success

Catherine

In the fast-paced world of business, effective communication is key. Mastering Business English phrasal verbs can elevate your language skills and help you navigate various professional situations with confidence. Whether you are in meetings, negotiations, or casual discussions, having a strong grasp of phrasal verbs can make a significant difference in how you are perceived in the business world. Let's dive into the top 30 phrasal verbs for Business English that will enrich your language repertoire and set you on the path to success.


1. Break down


When you "break down" information, you simplify complicated ideas for better understanding.


'Can you break down the quarterly reports for me?'

'In this meeting we will break down the plan for the following year.'


2. Carry out


To "carry out" a task means to complete it.


'Sam will be carrying out all tasks related to the client portfolio.'


3. Come up with


"Coming up with" ideas involves generating creative solutions.


'A really great idea that our graphics team has come up with is...'

'We need to come up with a new solution as our old strategy is no longer working.'


4. Deal with


To "deal with" a situation is to handle it effectively.


'No problem, I will deal with this.'

'Something else we need to deal with on a daily basis is customer complaints.'


5. Follow up


"Following up" means to check on the progress of something previously discussed.


6. Get through


To "get through" tasks is to finish them successfully.


'Just two more emails to get through and then I can go home.'

'It is quite a large workload, will you get through it all?'


7. Look into


When you "look into" a matter, you investigate it further.


'We need to look into why the client was overcharged.'

'Can you look into last years figures.'


8. Make up


"Making up" for mistakes involves rectifying errors.


'Sorry I was late this morning, I will make up for it by working through my lunch break.'


9. Opt out


To "opt out" is to choose not to participate in something.


'Thanks for the invite, I will have to opt out this time, I have other plans.'


10. Set up


"Setting up" involves establishing or organizing something.


'We want to set up an office badminton group, every Friday at 6pm.'

'We will be setting up our new branch in Barcelona next month.'


11. Bring up


When you "bring up" a topic, you introduce it into the conversation.


'Something I want to bring up, is the lack of sales this week.'


12. Fill out


To "fill out" forms is to complete them with necessary information.


'Let me fill out the form, and then I will make a decision.'





13. Get ahead


To "get ahead" means to progress or succeed.


'With our new product, we will get ahead of the competition, it is incredibly innovative.'

'If we want to get ahead, we need to change our strategy.'


14. Hold off


"Holding off" on a decision is delaying it temporarily.


'Hold off on contacting the client, we need to make a few final decisions.'


15. Iron out


To "iron out" problems is to resolve them.


'Let's schedule a call to iron out some of these problems.'


16. Lay off


"Laying off" employees is letting them go due to business reasons.


'Unfortunately during Covid-19 many people were laid off.'


17. Pass on


When you "pass on" information, you share it with others.


'When I have the answers, I will pass them on.'

'Can you pass on my message to your boss, when they arrive.'


18. Rule out


To "rule out" possibilities means to eliminate them from consideration.


'We need to rule out candidates that are not willing to work remotely.'


19. Team up


To "team up" is to collaborate with others on a project.


'Can you team up with Marketing to complete this project?'


20. Bring in


"Bringing in" experts involves seeking their expertise.


21. Cash in


To "cash in" on opportunities is to take advantage of them.


22. Draw up


"Drawing up" plans involves creating a detailed outline.


'We have drawn up the plans, do you want to review them?'


23. Face up to


To "face up to" challenges is to confront them directly.


'Are you ready to face up to this challenge?'

'The responsibility is more than I am used to, but I am ready to face up to the challenge.'


24. Get by


To "get by" is to manage or survive in challenging situations.


'We are earning enough to get by, but we need to improve our sales figures.'


25. Lay out


"Laying out" details involves presenting information clearly.


'Lay it out for me, how much debt are we in?'





26. Pick out


To "pick out" important details is to select them from a larger context.


'Can we pick out a few options that will work?'

'I picked you out from the other candidates because you have more experience.'


27. Run into


When you "run into" issues, you encounter unexpected problems.


'Everything went smoothly, we ran into no problems.'


28. Speak up


"Speaking up" means voicing your opinion or concerns.


'If anyone has any concerns, please speak up now.'


29. Take over


To "take over" responsibilities is to assume control.


'The COO will be taking over from me, whilst I am on maternity leave.'


30. Work out


"Working out" solutions involves finding resolutions to problems.


Mastering these phrasal verbs can significantly enhance your communication skills in the business world. Practice incorporating them into your daily conversations and writing to reinforce your understanding and fluency. By expanding your Business English vocabulary with these essential phrasal verbs, you are equipping yourself with valuable tools for success in a professional setting.


Remember, effective communication is the cornerstone of building strong business relationships and achieving professional growth. So, go ahead, embrace these phrasal verbs, and watch how they elevate your language skills and enhance your business interactions.




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