How to Master 15 Business English Phrasal Verbs for Professional Success

Customer Service Business English, Management and Leadership Business English, Negotiating Business English, Office Phrases Business English, Socialising Business English, Workplace Etiquette Business English / By

Enhance your workplace communication and sound more natural in Business English conversations.

Office conversation taking place between a man and woman. Toomey Business English.
A Man and woman having an office conversation.

Introduction

Do you find it challenging to sound professional and natural in English at work? Phrasal verbs are a key part of Business English that can transform your communication, but they often confuse non-native speakers.

In this article, we’ll explore 15 essential phrasal verbs that will help you communicate more confidently in meetings, emails, and everyday workplace conversations. Plus, don’t miss the video lesson below to see these phrasal verbs in action!

In today’s fast-paced business environment, sounding natural and professional in English can give you a significant advantage. These 15 phrasal verbs are used daily by native speakers and will help you express yourself more fluently in any professional setting.

Why Are Phrasal Verbs Important in Business English?

Phrasal verbs are multi-word expressions that combine a verb with a preposition or adverb, creating a new meaning. They are widely used by native speakers in both formal and informal settings, making them essential for effective communication.

In business, phrasal verbs can help you:

  • Sound more natural and fluent in conversations.
  • Build rapport with colleagues and clients.
  • Express ideas more clearly and concisely.

Mastering these expressions will not only improve your language skills but also boost your confidence in professional situations.

Watch the Video Lesson

🎥 Learn 15 Business English Phrasal Verbs in Action!
Watch this short video to see how these phrasal verbs are used in real workplace scenarios.

15 Essential Business English Phrasal Verbs

1. Wrap Up

Meaning: To finish or complete something.
Why It’s Important: This phrasal verb is essential for time management and ensuring meetings or projects end on a productive note. It’s commonly used in professional settings to signal the conclusion of a task or discussion.
Common Mistakes: Many learners confuse “wrap up” with “finish up.” While both mean to complete something, “wrap up” is more formal and often used in business contexts.
Synonyms: Conclude, finalise, complete.
Examples:

  • “We need to wrap up this project by Friday.”
  • “Let’s wrap up the meeting with a summary of key points.”
    Scenario:
  • Manager: “We’ve covered all the key points. Let’s wrap up the meeting with a quick summary.”
  • Team Member: “Sure, I’ll summarise the action items and send them out by email.”

2. Follow Up

Meaning: To continue pursuing something or check on progress.
Why It’s Important: Following up shows professionalism and attention to detail, which are highly valued in business. It ensures tasks are completed and communication remains clear.
Common Mistakes: Some learners use “follow up” incorrectly as a noun. Remember, it’s a verb phrase (e.g., “I’ll follow up,” not “I’ll do a follow up”).
Synonyms: Check back, touch base.
Examples:

  • “I’ll follow up with the client next week about their order.”
  • “Please follow up on those outstanding invoices.”
    Scenario:
  • Colleague: “Did the client confirm the delivery date?”
  • You: “Not yet, but I’ll follow up with them this afternoon.”

3. Look Into

Meaning: To investigate or research something.
Why It’s Important: This phrasal verb is useful for showing initiative and problem-solving skills. It’s often used when addressing issues or exploring new opportunities.
Common Mistakes: Avoid using “look into” in overly formal writing. Instead, use “investigate” or “research” in formal reports.
Synonyms: Investigate, examine.
Examples:

  • “Can you look into the reason for the website outage?”
  • “We need to look into potential office locations.”
    Scenario:
  • Manager: “We’ve had some complaints about the new software.”
  • You: “I’ll look into it and provide a report by tomorrow.”

4. Get Back

Meaning: To return with information or a response.
Why It’s Important: This phrasal verb is perfect for situations when you need time to gather information before responding. It’s polite and professional.
Common Mistakes: Learners sometimes omit the preposition “to” (e.g., “I’ll get back you” instead of “I’ll get back to you”).
Synonyms: Respond, reply.
Examples:

  • “I’ll get back to you with the sales figures by the end of the day.”
  • “Please get back to me if you have any other questions.”
    Scenario:
  • Client: “Can you confirm the delivery date?”
  • You: “I’ll get back to you once I’ve checked with the logistics team.”

5. Run Through

Meaning: To quickly review or go over something.
Why It’s Important: This phrasal verb is ideal for preparing presentations or reviewing agendas. It helps ensure everyone is on the same page.
Common Mistakes: Learners sometimes confuse “run through” with “go through.” While similar, “run through” implies a quicker review.
Synonyms: Review, go over.
Examples:

  • “Let’s run through the agenda before the meeting starts.”
  • “Can you run through the presentation one more time?”
    Scenario:
  • Manager: “We’re short on time. Can you quickly run through the key points?”
  • You: “Of course, I’ll keep it brief.”

6. Catch Up

Meaning: To make progress or become up to date.
Why It’s Important: This versatile phrasal verb works for both professional tasks and social situations in the workplace.
Common Mistakes: Learners sometimes confuse “catch up” with “keep up.” “Catch up” refers to regaining lost time, while “keep up” means maintaining the current pace.
Synonyms: Update, reconnect.
Examples:

  • “I need to catch up on my emails after the conference.”
  • “Let’s catch up over coffee and discuss the new project.”
    Scenario:
  • Colleague: “You’ve been away for a week. How’s everything going?”
  • You: “I’m still trying to catch up on all the emails I missed.”

7. Take On

Meaning: To accept or assume a responsibility or challenge.
Why It’s Important: This phrasal verb demonstrates initiative and willingness to accept new responsibilities, which is highly valued in professional settings.
Common Mistakes: Non-native speakers sometimes use “take” without “on,” which changes the meaning entirely.
Synonyms: Accept, undertake.
Examples:

  • “She’s taking on more responsibilities in the marketing department.”
  • “We can’t take on any more clients this quarter.”
    Scenario:
  • Manager: “We need someone to lead the new project. Any volunteers?”
  • You: “I’d be happy to take on that challenge.”

8. Bring Up

Meaning: To mention or introduce a topic for discussion.
Why It’s Important: This phrasal verb is essential for effective meeting participation and diplomatic communication.
Common Mistakes: Some learners confuse “bring up” with “talk about.” “Bring up” specifically refers to introducing a new topic.
Synonyms: Mention, raise.
Examples:

  • “I’d like to bring up the issue of staff turnover in today’s meeting.”
  • “Can we bring up the budget concerns with the finance team?”
    Scenario:
  • You: “Before we move on, I’d like to bring up something about the new marketing strategy.”
  • Manager: “Good point. Let’s discuss that now.”

9. Check In

Meaning: To make contact or report on progress.
Why It’s Important: Regular check-ins demonstrate accountability and keep projects on track. This phrasal verb is essential for project management and team communication.
Common Mistakes: Learners sometimes use “check in” when they mean “check out” (as in a hotel).
Synonyms: Touch base, report.
Examples:

  • “Let’s check in with each other every Monday morning.”
  • “I’ll check in with the development team to see how the project is progressing.”
    Scenario:
  • Team Leader: “How’s everyone doing with their tasks?”
  • You: “I’m just checking in to let you know I’ve completed the first phase.”

10. Break Down

Meaning: To divide into smaller parts or explain in detail.
Why It’s Important: This phrasal verb is crucial for making complex information more accessible and manageable.
Common Mistakes: “Break down” can also mean “fail to function” or “have an emotional collapse.” Context is important.
Synonyms: Analyse, simplify.
Examples:

  • “Let’s break down the quarterly results by department.”
  • “Can you break down the process into simpler steps?”
    Scenario:
  • New Employee: “I’m finding this procedure quite complex.”
  • You: “Let me break it down for you. First, you need to…”

11. Push Back

Meaning: To delay or resist.
Why It’s Important: This phrasal verb is useful for negotiating deadlines and expressing concerns professionally.
Common Mistakes: Some learners use “push back” too directly, which can sound confrontational. It’s best used with a clear explanation.
Synonyms: Delay, postpone.
Examples:

  • “We need to push back the launch date by two weeks.”
  • “The team pushed back against the new policy.”
    Scenario:
  • Manager: “Can you deliver the report by Friday?”
  • You: “I’d like to push back on that deadline. Given the scope, we’ll need until Wednesday next week.”

12. Branch Out

Meaning: To expand or diversify into new areas.
Why It’s Important: This phrasal verb demonstrates innovation and growth mindset, which are valuable in business contexts.
Common Mistakes: Learners sometimes confuse “branch out” with “reach out.” “Branch out” refers to expansion, while “reach out” means to contact someone.
Synonyms: Diversify, expand.
Examples:

  • “Our company is branching out into the Asian market.”
  • “She’s branching out from marketing into product development.”
    Scenario:
  • Colleague: “What’s the strategic plan for next year?”
  • You: “We’re looking to branch out into sustainable products to capture a new market segment.”

13. Kick Off

Meaning: To begin or start something.
Why It’s Important: This energetic phrasal verb is perfect for launching projects or meetings with enthusiasm.
Common Mistakes: “Kick off” is informal, so it may not be suitable for very formal business documents.
Synonyms: Launch, initiate.
Examples:

  • “We’ll kick off the conference with a keynote speech.”
  • “The new marketing campaign kicks off next Monday.”
    Scenario:
  • Project Manager: “When should we start the implementation phase?”
  • You: “Let’s kick off with a team meeting on Monday to align everyone.”

14. Keep Up

Meaning: To maintain the same pace or standard.
Why It’s Important: This phrasal verb is essential for discussing performance and expectations in a professional context.
Common Mistakes: Learners sometimes confuse “keep up” with “catch up.” “Keep up” refers to maintaining pace, while “catch up” means to reach the same level after falling behind.
Synonyms: Maintain, sustain.
Examples:

  • “It’s difficult to keep up with all the changes in our industry.”
  • “The team is keeping up with the increased demand.”
    Scenario:
  • Manager: “The workload is increasing this quarter.”
  • You: “We’re implementing new systems to help us keep up with the growing demands.”

15. Stick To

Meaning: To adhere to or follow closely.
Why It’s Important: This phrasal verb demonstrates reliability and consistency, which are highly valued in professional settings.
Common Mistakes: Some learners use “stick with” instead of “stick to.” While similar, “stick to” is more common when referring to plans or schedules.
Synonyms: Adhere to, follow.
Examples:

  • “Let’s stick to the agenda to ensure we finish on time.”
  • “We need to stick to our budget this quarter.”
    Scenario:
  • Team Member: “Should we explore this new idea instead?”
  • You: “It’s interesting, but I think we should stick to our original plan for now to meet the deadline.”

How to Practise Phrasal Verbs Effectively

  1. Start Small: Focus on 2-3 phrasal verbs at a time.
  2. Listen and Observe: Pay attention to how native speakers use these expressions in meetings, podcasts, or videos.
  3. Practice Daily: Incorporate these verbs into your emails, meetings, and conversations.
  4. Use Flashcards: Create flashcards with the phrasal verb, its meaning, and an example sentence.
  5. Context is Key: Learn phrasal verbs in context rather than as isolated expressions.
  6. Group Similar Verbs: Organise phrasal verbs by theme (e.g., meeting verbs, project management verbs).
  7. Record Yourself: Practice using these phrasal verbs in sentences and record yourself to improve pronunciation.

Regional Differences in Phrasal Verb Usage

It’s worth noting that phrasal verb usage can vary between different English-speaking countries:

UK vs US Business English:

  • In the UK, you might hear “sort out” a problem, while in the US, “figure out” is more common.
  • Americans tend to “reach out” to colleagues, while Britons might “get in touch” instead.
  • In the UK, you might “ring up” a client, while in the US, you would “call up” or simply “call.”

Understanding these nuances can help you adapt your language depending on who you’re communicating with.

FAQ: Business English Phrasal Verbs

What are phrasal verbs, and why are they important in Business English?
Phrasal verbs are multi-word expressions that combine a verb with a preposition or adverb. They are commonly used in professional communication to sound more natural and fluent.

How can I learn phrasal verbs quickly?
Focus on the most common ones, practise them in context, and listen to native speakers in meetings or podcasts.

Are phrasal verbs formal or informal?
Phrasal verbs can be both. Many are appropriate for professional settings, such as “follow up” or “wrap up,” while others, like “chill out,” are more casual.

Can I use phrasal verbs in formal business writing?
Yes, many phrasal verbs are perfectly acceptable in formal business writing. However, some very casual phrasal verbs might be better replaced with their more formal equivalents in written communication.

How many phrasal verbs should I learn?
Start with the 15 in this article, as they are among the most common in business contexts. Once you’re comfortable with these, you can gradually expand your repertoire.

Ready to Take Your Business English to the Next Level?

Mastering phrasal verbs is a crucial step in improving your Business English skills. By incorporating these 15 expressions into your daily communication, you’ll sound more natural, professional, and confident in any workplace setting.

Book a free 15-minute consultation to learn how we can help you master Business English and communicate confidently in any professional situation.

Book Now: https://toomeybusinessenglish.com/business-english-training/

Share Your Thoughts!

Have you faced challenges using phrasal verbs in your workplace communication? Which phrasal verbs do you find most difficult to use naturally in meetings, emails, or conversations?

We’d love to hear about your experiences! Share your thoughts in the comments below or connect with us on LinkedIn or Facebook. Let’s discuss how mastering these expressions can transform your Business English skills!

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