To effectively use business English phrasal verbs in meetings, focus on understanding their specific context, such as using 'follow up' for post-meeting actions and 'bring forward' to reschedule. Practice them in low-stakes situations and listen to how native speakers use them to build confidence and fluency in professional communication.
Why Are Business English Phrasal Verbs So Important?
Walking into a work meeting can feel like entering a new world, complete with its own language. A key part of that language is business English phrasal verbs. These short, two-or-three-word phrases (like *look into* or *draw up*) are essential for sounding natural, fluent, and professional. While your textbook English is perfectly correct, using phrasal verbs shows a deeper understanding of everyday corporate communication and helps you build a stronger rapport with colleagues and clients.
They are shortcuts that native speakers use constantly to convey complex ideas efficiently. Mastering them is a game-changer for your career.
How Can I Use Common Business English Phrasal Verbs for Scheduling and Agendas?
One of the most common topics in any meeting is the meeting itself—when it will happen, what will be discussed, and if anything needs to change. Using the right phrasal verbs here makes you sound organised and clear.
Here are some essential verbs for managing schedules and agendas:
- Bring forward: To move a meeting or deadline to an earlier time or date.
- *Example*: "Due to the client's new timeline, can we bring forward Friday's review meeting to Thursday?"
- Push back / Put off: The opposite of *bring forward*. It means to delay or move something to a later time or date.
- *Example*: "We don't have the final data yet, so we'll have to push back the presentation until next week."
- Call off: To cancel a planned event or meeting completely.
- *Example*: "The project manager is sick, so we need to call off the 10 AM stand-up meeting."
- Draw up: To prepare a document, plan, or list by writing it.
- *Example*: "Before the meeting, could you please draw up a list of key discussion points?"
- Go over: To review or check something carefully.
- *Example*: "Let's quickly go over the action items from our last meeting."
How Do I Use Phrasal Verbs for Actions and Follow-Ups?
Meetings are all about deciding on the next steps. These phrasal verbs are crucial for assigning tasks, discussing progress, and ensuring everyone knows their responsibilities.
- Follow up: To take further action or get more information about something that was discussed previously. This is often done after a meeting via email or a quick chat.
- *Example*: "I will follow up with the IT department to get an update on the software installation."
- Look into: To investigate or research a problem or situation.
- *Example*: "Thanks for raising that issue. I'll ask my team to look into why the website traffic dropped."
- Carry out: To perform or complete a task or plan.
- *Example*: "The marketing team will carry out the customer survey in the third quarter."
- Take on: To accept a new task or responsibility.
- *Example*: "I have some availability next week, so I can take on the task of creating the report."
- Hand over: To give responsibility for something to another person.
- *Example*: "Before I go on vacation, I will hand over my client accounts to David."
- Weigh in: To give your opinion or join a discussion.
- *Example*: "I'd like our design lead to weigh in on these new mockups before we proceed."
What Is the Best Way to Master Business English Phrasal Verbs?
Understanding these verbs is the first step, but using them confidently is the goal. It requires active practice and a strategic approach. Instead of trying to memorise hundreds of them, focus on mastering the most common ones you hear in your workplace.
Here are some proven tips:
- Focus on Context: Pay attention to the *entire* sentence. The meaning of a phrasal verb can change with a different preposition (e.g., *look into* vs. *look up*).
- Start Small: Choose 5-10 of the most relevant phrasal verbs from this list and aim to use them in the next week. Once you're comfortable, add a few more.
- Listen Actively: In your next meeting, listen specifically for phrasal verbs used by your colleagues. Write them down and note how they were used.
- Practice in Writing First: Before using them in a high-pressure meeting, try incorporating them into your emails. This is a safe way to build confidence.
By focusing on these practical steps, you can start using business English phrasal verbs to make your communication more effective and professional, ensuring your ideas are heard and understood.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q1: What's the difference between 'put off' and 'call off'? While both relate to scheduling, their meanings are very different. To put off something means to postpone or delay it to a later time. To call off something means to cancel it entirely, with no plan to reschedule it.
Q2: Can I use 'follow up on' something? Yes, absolutely. Both "follow up with a person" and "follow up on a topic" are correct and very common in business communication. For example, "I will follow up with Sarah on the marketing budget."
Q3: Is it unprofessional to use phrasal verbs in a formal business meeting? Not at all. In fact, it's the opposite. Using phrasal verbs correctly makes your English sound more natural and fluent, which is a key part of professional communication. Overly formal or academic language can sometimes sound stiff and unnatural in a typical meeting.
Q4: How can I remember so many business phrasal verbs? Don't try to learn them all at once. The best method is learning them in context. Create a personal vocabulary notebook where you write the phrasal verb, its meaning, and a real sentence from a meeting or email you encountered. Review your notebook regularly to reinforce your learning.