The 10 most useful English phrasal verbs for business meetings include expressions like 'bring up', 'follow up', 'deal with', and 'wrap up'. Mastering these phrases is essential for sounding natural and communicating clearly in a professional corporate environment, from presentations to negotiations.
Walking into a high-stakes meeting can be nerve-wracking, especially when English isn't your first language. To truly sound fluent and confident, you need to go beyond basic vocabulary and embrace the nuances of professional communication. This is where mastering English phrasal verbs for business meetings becomes a game-changer. These common expressions are key to understanding native speakers and contributing to discussions like a seasoned pro.
Why Are Phrasal Verbs Important in Professional Communication?
Phrasal verbs are multi-word verbs (e.g., *set up*, *call off*) that are extremely common in everyday English, including corporate language. Using them correctly shows a deeper understanding of the language and helps you integrate more smoothly into English-speaking workplaces. They make your speech sound less robotic and more natural, which builds rapport with colleagues and clients.
What are the 10 Most Useful English Phrasal Verbs for Business Meetings?
Here is a breakdown of the top 10 phrasal verbs you'll hear and use in almost every business meeting, complete with definitions, examples, and tips for natural use.
Bring up
- Meaning: To introduce a topic or subject for discussion.
- Example: "Before we move on, I'd like to bring up the Q3 budget concerns."
- How to use it naturally: Use this to gently steer the conversation toward a point on your agenda that hasn't been mentioned yet.
Call off
- Meaning: To cancel a planned event.
- Example: "Due to the client's scheduling conflict, we have to call off tomorrow's follow-up meeting."
- How to use it naturally: This is a direct and common way to talk about cancellations. It's more natural than saying "We must cancel the meeting."
Deal with
- Meaning: To handle, manage, or take action on a problem or task.
- Example: "Sarah's team will deal with the client complaints from last week."
- How to use it naturally: Use this to assign responsibility or explain how a challenge is being managed.
Follow up
- Meaning: To take further action or communicate with someone after a previous meeting or event.
- Example: "I will follow up with an email summarising the action points we discussed today."
- How to use it naturally: This is a crucial phrase for ending discussions. It signals that you will continue to work on the topic after the meeting ends.
Look into
- Meaning: To investigate or examine a matter.
- Example: "That's a valid point. We'll look into the market data and report back next week."
- How to use it naturally: Use this when you don't have an immediate answer but want to show you are taking a question or problem seriously.
Put forward
- Meaning: To propose or suggest an idea, plan, or proposal for consideration.
- Example: "During the brainstorming session, Mark put forward an excellent idea for the new marketing campaign."
- How to use it naturally: A great, professional alternative to "suggested an idea."
Run through
- Meaning: To quickly review, repeat, or rehearse something.
- Example: "Can we quickly run through the main points of the presentation one more time?"
- How to use it naturally: Perfect for reviews, summaries, or rehearsals before a major presentation.
Set up
- Meaning: To arrange or organize something, like a meeting or a conference call.
- Example: "My assistant will set up a call for next Tuesday to finalise the details."
- How to use it naturally: This is the most common way to talk about organizing future events.
Take on
- Meaning: To accept a new task, challenge, or responsibility.
- Example: "After my promotion, I had to take on more management duties."
- How to use it naturally: Use this to talk about accepting new work or responsibilities, either for yourself or a team member.
Wrap up
- Meaning: To finish or conclude a meeting or discussion.
- Example: "We have five minutes left, so let's wrap up this discussion and confirm the next steps."
- How to use it naturally: An essential phrase for meeting facilitators to signal that the end is near and to focus on conclusions.
How Can I Practice These Business English Expressions?
To master these phrasal verbs, you need to actively use them. Here are a few tips:
- Listen actively: Pay attention during conference calls and meetings to hear how native speakers use these phrases.
- Write them down: Try writing your own example sentences related to your specific job.
- Role-play: Practice a mock meeting with a colleague or language partner, and try to use at least three of these phrasal verbs.
- Set small goals: Aim to use one new phrasal verb in your next meeting.
By incorporating these top 10 English phrasal verbs for business meetings into your professional vocabulary, you'll not only understand more but also communicate your ideas with greater confidence and fluency. It's a simple step that can have a huge impact on your career.
Frequently Asked Questions About Business Phrasal Verbs
What is the difference between a verb and a phrasal verb? A regular verb is typically a single word (e.g., *cancel*), while a phrasal verb is a multi-word phrase made up of a verb and a particle (an adverb or preposition), like *call off*. The meaning of the phrasal verb is often very different from the meaning of the individual words.
Can I use phrasal verbs in formal business writing? Yes, most of the phrasal verbs listed here (like *follow up*, *look into*, *put forward*) are perfectly acceptable and common in formal business emails and reports. However, some phrasal verbs are very informal, so it's important to learn them in context.
How can I remember phrasal verbs easily? The best way is to learn them in thematic groups, like the business meeting list above. Create flashcards with the phrasal verb on one side and its meaning and an example sentence on the other. Consistent practice is key.
Are phrasal verbs more common in American or British English? Phrasal verbs are extremely common in both American and British English, as well as other English dialects. While some specific phrasal verbs may be more prevalent in one region, they are a core feature of the English language everywhere.
What's a good phrasal verb to use when you agree with someone in a meeting? While not on this list, a great phrasal verb for agreeing is 'be on board with'. You could say, "I'm completely on board with that proposal" to show your strong agreement and support.