The most common English phrasal verbs for business meetings include 'kick off' (to start), 'bring up' (to introduce a topic), 'go over' (to review), 'wrap up' (to finish), and 'follow up' (to take further action). Using them correctly helps you sound more natural and fluent in professional communication.
Have you ever felt lost in a business meeting when a native speaker uses a phrase like “let’s kick things off”? You understood the individual words, but the meaning was unclear. This is the challenge of phrasal verbs, and mastering them is a key step towards fluency. This guide will break down the most common English phrasal verbs for business meetings, providing clear examples to help you use them with confidence.
Why Are English Phrasal Verbs for Business Meetings So Important?
Phrasal verbs combine a verb with a preposition or adverb, creating a new meaning. Native speakers use them constantly in both casual and professional settings. Learning them is crucial for two reasons:
- Understanding: You will be able to follow conversations more easily without getting confused by idiomatic language.
- Fluency: Using them yourself will make your English sound more natural and less like a textbook, helping you build better rapport with colleagues.
Let’s explore the key phrasal verbs you’ll encounter, broken down by the different stages of a typical meeting.
Which Phrasal Verbs Can I Use to Start a Meeting?
Setting the right tone from the beginning is essential. These phrasal verbs help you get the meeting started smoothly.
Kick off
- Meaning: To start or begin something, like an event or meeting.
- Example: "Alright everyone, it’s 10 AM. Let’s kick off this week’s project sync."
Get started
- Meaning: A slightly more direct way to say begin.
- Example: "Now that everyone is here, shall we get started with the first item on the agenda?"
What Are the Best Phrasal Verbs for Discussing Topics?
This is the core of any meeting. These verbs will help you introduce, review, and contribute to the discussion effectively.
Bring up
- Meaning: To introduce a topic for discussion.
- Example: "Before we move on, I’d like to bring up the budget concerns for Q4."
Go over
- Meaning: To review or examine something carefully.
- Example: "Could we quickly go over the sales figures from last month?"
Deal with
- Meaning: To manage or take action on a problem or task.
- Example: "First, we need to deal with the client feedback from the latest demo."
Weigh in
- Meaning: To give your opinion or join a discussion.
- Example: "Sarah, you have experience in this area. We’d love for you to weigh in."
How Can I Use Phrasal Verbs for Decisions and Actions?
Meetings should lead to outcomes. Use these phrasal verbs to talk about decisions, next steps, and assigning tasks.
Rule out
- Meaning: To decide that something is not a possible option.
- Example: "Due to the tight deadline, we can rule out developing a new mobile app from scratch."
Follow up on
- Meaning: To take further action or get more information about something later.
- Example: "I will follow up on the technical issue with the IT department after this meeting."
Draw up
- Meaning: To prepare a written document, such as a plan, contract, or report.
- Example: "Can you please draw up a summary of the action items we agreed on?"
What Phrasal Verbs Help Conclude a Meeting?
Ending a meeting clearly is just as important as starting it well. These phrases signal that the discussion is coming to a close.
Wrap up
- Meaning: To finish or conclude something.
- Example: "We’re almost out of time, so let’s wrap up in the next five minutes."
Sum up
- Meaning: To summarize the main points of a discussion.
- Example: "To sum up, we will postpone the launch and gather more user feedback."
Key Phrasal Verbs at a Glance
To help you remember, here is a list of the top phrasal verbs we covered:
- Kick off: To begin.
- Bring up: To introduce a topic.
- Go over: To review.
- Weigh in: To share an opinion.
- Deal with: To manage a task.
- Rule out: To eliminate an option.
- Follow up on: To take later action.
- Draw up: To prepare a document.
- Sum up: To summarize.
- Wrap up: To conclude.
Mastering these English phrasal verbs for business meetings will significantly boost your professional communication skills. Start by listening for them in conversations and try incorporating one or two into your next meeting. With practice, you'll be using them naturally and fluently.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
How can I remember all these business phrasal verbs?
The best way is through active practice. Create flashcards with the phrasal verb on one side and its meaning and an example sentence on the other. Try to write your own sentences related to your job, as this creates a stronger personal connection and makes them easier to recall.
Is it unprofessional to use phrasal verbs in a formal meeting?
Not at all. In fact, using them correctly makes you sound more like a native speaker and can improve communication. The phrasal verbs listed here, such as 'follow up on' or 'go over,' are standard in professional business English. The key is to use them in the right context.
What is the difference between 'put off' and 'call off' a meeting?
'Put off' means to postpone or delay a meeting to a later time or date. For example, "We had to put off the meeting until Friday." 'Call off' means to cancel the meeting completely. For example, "The client called off the presentation, so it won't be happening."
Can you give an example of using multiple phrasal verbs in one sentence?
Certainly. A manager might say at the end of a meeting: "To wrap up, I will follow up on the budget issue that David brought up, and I'll ask Claire to draw up a new proposal."
What should I do if I don't understand a phrasal verb in a meeting?
It's perfectly acceptable to ask for clarification. You can say something polite like, "Could you please clarify what you mean by 'phase out'?" or "I'm not familiar with that expression, could you explain?" It shows you are engaged and eager to understand.