To sound more professional in business meetings, you can use common English phrasal verbs like 'follow up,' 'bring up,' and 'weigh in.' These phrases help you clearly express actions such as discussing topics, contributing opinions, and managing tasks, making your communication sound more natural and fluent.
Have you ever felt that your English in a business meeting sounds a little too much like a textbook? Using multi-word verbs, also known as phrasal verbs, is a key step towards sounding more like a native speaker. While some phrasal verbs are informal, many are perfectly suited for the workplace and can make your professional communication clearer and more dynamic. This guide will walk you through some common English phrasal verbs that will elevate your business vocabulary and boost your confidence.
Why Should I Use Phrasal Verbs in a Business Setting?
Using phrasal verbs correctly demonstrates a higher level of English proficiency. Native speakers use them constantly in both spoken and written communication. By incorporating them into your vocabulary, you can:
- Sound more natural: Your speech will flow better and sound less robotic.
- Communicate more precisely: Often, a phrasal verb is the most efficient way to express a specific action (e.g., 'put off' is quicker than 'postpone the meeting until a later time').
- Better understand colleagues: You'll be able to follow conversations more easily when your colleagues use these common verb phrases.
The key is to learn which phrasal verbs are appropriate for professional contexts and which are too informal.
What Are Some Common English Phrasal Verbs for General Discussion?
Here are 10 essential phrasal verbs you can start using in your next meeting. They are grouped by the function they serve in a conversation, making them easier to remember and use at the right moment.
How can I introduce a topic or review information?
- Bring up: To introduce a subject for discussion.
- Example: "During the project update, I'd like to bring up the new budget proposal."
- Go over: To review or examine something carefully.
- Example: "Before we make a decision, let's go over the sales figures from the last quarter one more time."
How do I contribute my opinion or manage a task?
- Weigh in: To give an opinion or join a discussion or argument.
- Example: "I'd like to hear what the marketing team has to say. Sarah, could you weigh in on this?"
- Look into: To investigate or research a problem or situation.
- Example: "There's a discrepancy in the report. I'll ask my team to look into it and get back to you."
- Deal with: To handle or take action on a task or problem.
- Example: "The client has a few concerns about the timeline. Don't worry, I will deal with it this afternoon."
How can I talk about scheduling and follow-up actions?
- Follow up: To take further action connected with something that happened earlier.
- Example: "Thanks for the great ideas. I will follow up with an email summarizing the action points."
- Put off / Push back: To postpone something to a later time or date.
- Example: "Since the client is unavailable, we'll have to put off the meeting until next week." or "Can we push back the deadline by two days?"
- Call off: To cancel a planned event.
- Example: "Due to the technical issues, we had to call off the product demonstration entirely."
What verbs can I use for problem-solving?
- Figure out: To understand or find a solution to a problem.
- Example: "We need to figure out why our website traffic has decreased this month."
- Break down: To divide something complex into smaller, more manageable parts for analysis.
- Example: "The task seems overwhelming. Let's break it down into a few smaller steps."
How Can I Practice Using These Common English Phrasal Verbs?
Mastering these phrases requires practice. Start by actively listening for them in conversations, business podcasts, and movies. When you write emails, challenge yourself to replace a more formal, single-word verb (like 'investigate') with its phrasal verb equivalent ('look into'). Finally, try using one or two new common English phrasal verbs in your next low-pressure meeting. The more you use them, the more natural they will become.
By incorporating these phrases, you’re not just learning vocabulary; you're learning how to communicate more effectively in a modern, global workplace. Adding these common English phrasal verbs to your professional toolkit is a powerful step towards fluency and confidence.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1: Are all phrasal verbs appropriate for formal business meetings?
No, not all phrasal verbs are suitable for formal settings. For example, 'hang on' is a very informal way to say 'wait a moment.' The 10 verbs listed in this article—such as 'follow up,' 'go over,' and 'bring up'—are widely accepted and commonly used in professional business communication.
Q2: What's the difference between 'put off' and 'call off'?
This is a common point of confusion. To 'put off' (or 'push back') something means to postpone it to a later time. To 'call off' something means to cancel it completely, with no plan to reschedule.
Q3: How can I remember the meanings of so many phrasal verbs?
Context is key. Instead of memorizing lists, try to learn them in phrases and real-world examples. Group them by topic (like 'scheduling' or 'problem-solving') as we did in this article. Using flashcards with a phrasal verb on one side and an example sentence on the other can also be very effective.
Q4: Can I use 'look into' instead of 'investigate' in a meeting?
Yes, absolutely. In most business contexts, 'look into' is a perfect and very common synonym for 'investigate.' It often sounds slightly more natural and less formal than 'investigate,' making it ideal for team meetings and discussions.
Q5: Is it okay to use 'get back to' when talking to my manager?
Yes, 'get back to someone' is a standard and professional phrasal verb meaning to contact them later with a reply or information. It is completely appropriate to say, "I don't have that data right now, but I will get back to you this afternoon."