Do you ever feel like you’re struggling to get your point across in a business meeting or conversation? If so, phrasal verbs in business might be the key to improving your communication. Phrasal verbs are an essential part of the English language, especially when it comes to conversations in the business world.

They can help you to express yourself more clearly and concisely, making conversations and communication smoother. In this blog post, we’ll explore 20 of the most common phrasal verbs used in business.

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Phrasal Verbs in Business – Follow up

A phrasal verb that is commonly used in business situations is “follow up.”

This phrase can have many different meanings depending on the context. Generally speaking, it means to do something after an initial action has been taken. For example, if someone emails you with a request or a question, you might follow up by sending a response or by scheduling a meeting to discuss the topic further.

In addition, “follow up” can also mean to take further steps in order to ensure that something has been completed. For example, if you’ve delegated a task to an employee, you might follow up by asking them for updates and progress reports to make sure that the task has been completed according to your instructions.

Finally, “follow up” can also be used to refer to any additional actions taken after the initial process has been finished. For example, if you’ve successfully closed a deal, you might follow up by checking in with the customer to ensure that they are satisfied with the product or service.

Therefore, “follow up” is an essential phrasal verb for anyone in business, as it is used to refer to actions that are taken in order to ensure that tasks have been completed efficiently and effectively.

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Phrasal Verbs in Business – Get ahead

The phrasal verb “get ahead” means to make progress or to be successful.

This phrase is often used in a business context, and implies that someone is working hard to reach their goals.

For example, you can say

“We need to get ahead of the competition if we want to succeed”.

This suggests that the speaker needs to make more progress than their competitors in order to be successful. It also implies that the speaker needs to take action and work hard in order to achieve their goal.

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Phrasal Verbs in Business – Look forward to

Look forward to is a great phrasal verb to use in business situations, as it means to anticipate and be excited about an upcoming event or outcome.

For example, in a business meeting, you could say

“We are looking forward to the results of the project.”

This shows that you and the other members of the team are excited and hopeful for what is to come.

Phrasal Verbs in Business –  Fill out

Fill out is a phrasal verb used to mean ‘to provide information on a form or document’.

An example of how to use it in a business situation is

“Please fill out the necessary paperwork before you leave”.

This means that the person needs to provide all the necessary information that is requested on the forms before they depart.

5) Cheer up

When you want someone to stay positive and motivated in a business situation, you can use the phrase “cheer up.” This phrase encourages them to remain optimistic and resilient in the face of adversity. For example, if a colleague is feeling down about a project,

you could say,’

“Cheer up! We can still make this work.”

This phrase can also be used when someone has had bad news and needs a bit of comfort and positivity.

6) Calm down

The phrase “calm down” is often used in business situations when there is a heated debate or a difficult decision needs to be made. It can be used to remind people that the best decision is one made after everyone has had time to take a step back and think about the situation calmly.

An example of using this phrasal verb in a business situation might be

“Let’s take a break and calm down before continuing our discussion.”

This lets everyone know that it’s time to take a pause and let the emotions settle so that everyone can be on the same page and make the best decision.

7) Pass on

This phrase is used to refer turning down a chance or opportunity, or the process stopping.

For example,

“I am sorry but I will have to pass on the offer, but thank you for the invite. ”

In a business setting, this phrase may be used when discussing opportunities or events in a business situation.

It is a polite way of expressing that you are not willing to do or attend or take someone up on their offer.

8) Hang on

The phrase “hang on” is used to tell someone to wait or be patient in a business situation.

For example, if a colleague needs time to finish a task, you can say

“Hang on, I’ll have the report ready in 10 minutes.”

This phrase is useful in situations where someone needs to be patient and wait for something.

It encourages people to remain calm and not rush the process.

9) Give in

The phrase “give in” means to agree to something, usually after a period of disagreement.

In business, “giving in” is often used to indicate a compromise between two parties.

For example, if you and another party cannot agree on a certain issue, you might “give in” on some of your points in order to reach a successful resolution.

Phrasal Verbs in Business –  Put off

Put off means to delay or postpone something. In a business situation, it is often used when referring to tasks, projects, or deadlines that are not going to be met in a timely manner.

For example, you might say

“I’m going to have to put off this project until next week”

if you know you won’t be able to complete it by the original deadline.

11) Back down

To back down means to accept that you are wrong and accept the other party’s argument or decision.

In a business context, it can refer to retracting a previous offer or position in order to reach an agreement.

For example, if two parties are negotiating a salary and the employer is unwilling to meet the employee’s demands, the employee may choose to back down and settle for a lower salary.

12) Get through

Get through is a phrasal verb that means to complete or finish something, especially something difficult. In business, it can be used when you want to express that you have completed an important task.

For example, you might say

“I’m so happy that I was able to get through this project.”

This phrase is often used to talk about overcoming challenges and succeeding in difficult situations.

13) Pick up

The phrasal verb “pick up” can be used to mean to obtain, collect, or purchase something. In a business setting, this phrase can be used to ask someone to go and get an item that you need.

For example, you might ask a colleague to “pick up” some paper for the printer. It can also be used in a figurative sense, such as when you tell a team member that sales are “picking up.”

This means that sales are increasing.

14) Pull through

Pull through is a phrasal verb used in business to describe when someone is able to successfully overcome a difficult situation.

For example, if a company is going through a difficult financial period, the CEO may pull them through by restructuring and making the necessary changes.

Pulling through can also refer to an individual, such as an employee who is struggling with a task but eventually succeeds in completing it.

15) Come across

In a business situation, the phrase “come across” means to give off a certain impression or attitude.

For example, you could say,

“He came across as very professional during the meeting.”

This phrase is often used to describe how someone appears to others during a business setting. It can also be used to describe a first impression.

Phrasal Verbs in Business – Cut off

Cut off is a phrasal verb that is used to describe the action of ending something abruptly.

It is often used in business when trying to limit discussion or make a point.

For example,

“Let’s cut off this conversation and move on to the next topic”

“I think we should cut off this debate before it goes any further”.

In both cases, the speaker is suggesting that the conversation be stopped and something else discussed.

17) Put up with

Put up with is a phrasal verb used in business situations when someone needs to tolerate something they don’t agree with or find disagreeable.

For example, if a business partner wants to take a certain action but the other partner disagrees, they may say

“I’m not happy with this but I’ll put up with it”.

This means they’re reluctantly accepting the situation as they don’t have any other options.

18) Go through

Go through is a common phrasal verb used in business to mean “examine something thoroughly or systematically”.

For example, you can use it when talking about examining a document before making a decision.

You might say,

“Let’s go through the contract and make sure everything is in order.”

This means that you want to read the document carefully to check for any issues. It can also be used in other contexts such as analyzing data or researching information.

For example, if you are making a presentation,

you might say

“I need to go through the research before I can give an accurate report.”

19) Stand up for

To take a firm position in defense of something or someone, to advocate for it.

In business, you may need to stand up for a project or idea you believe in. This means advocating for it and not giving up even when faced with opposition.

For example, if you have a plan to introduce a new product that you know will be successful, but others are against it, you may need to stand up for your plan and explain why it is the right course of action.

Phrasal Verbs in Business –  Work out

The phrasal verb ‘work out’ is often used to mean finding a solution to a problem. For example, in business it can be used to describe a team coming together to solve an issue or negotiate a deal. It is also commonly used when discussing the result of a decision or action and how it will impact other aspects of the business.

For example,

“Let’s work out how this new policy will affect our bottom line.”

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