The most common phrasal verbs for a business meeting in English include key terms like 'follow up,' 'draw up,' 'bring forward,' and 'call off.' Mastering these essential verb phrases is crucial for clear communication and sounding more natural and professional in a corporate environment.
Walking into a meeting with confidence is about more than just knowing your subject matter; it's about commanding the language. In the world of professional English, this means understanding the nuances that make your speech sound fluent and natural. This is where mastering the most common phrasal verbs for a business meeting in English becomes a game-changer, elevating your communication from basic to boardroom-ready.
Why Are Common Phrasal Verbs for a Business Meeting in English So Important?
Phrasal verbs (a verb combined with a preposition or adverb) are everywhere in spoken English, especially in the workplace. Native speakers use them constantly to convey meaning concisely. Ignoring them means you might miss key details in a discussion, while learning them allows you to:
- Understand Colleagues Better: You'll grasp the true meaning behind statements like "Let's push the deadline back" or "We need to look into this issue."
- Sound More Natural: Using these professional expressions correctly helps you sound less like a textbook and more like a fluent, confident speaker.
- Communicate More Efficiently: Often, a single phrasal verb can replace a longer, more complicated explanation, making your point clearly and quickly.
A Practical Guide to the Most Common Phrasal Verbs for a Business Meeting in English
Let's dive into the essential meeting vocabulary you'll encounter. Here are 12 phrasal verbs you should learn, understand, and start using today.
Follow up
Meaning: To take further action or continue communication about something that was discussed earlier. Example: "Thanks for the productive meeting. I will follow up with an email summarising the action points."
Set up
Meaning: To arrange or organise something, like a meeting or a call. Example: "Could you please set up a call with the marketing team for next Tuesday?"
Draw up
Meaning: To prepare and write a formal document, such as a contract, proposal, or plan. Example: "After our discussion, the legal team will draw up the new agreement."
Bring forward
Meaning: To move an event or meeting to an earlier date or time. Example: "The client is available sooner than we thought. Can we bring forward our presentation to Monday?"
Put off / Push back
Meaning: The opposite of 'bring forward'; to postpone an event or meeting to a later date or time. Example: "We need more data before we can decide, so let's put off the decision until next week."
Call off
Meaning: To cancel a planned event. Example: "Due to the project's cancellation, we'll have to call off the weekly progress meeting."
Go over
Meaning: To review, check, or discuss something in detail. Example: "Before we begin, I'd like to quickly go over the agenda for today's meeting."
Weigh in
Meaning: To give your opinion or join a discussion. Example: "I'd like our design lead to weigh in on this topic before we make a final choice."
Run by / Run through
Meaning: To explain or show something to someone to get their opinion or approval. Example: "This is a great idea, but please run it by the manager before you proceed."
Look into
Meaning: To investigate or research a problem or situation. Example: "We've noticed a drop in sales. We need a team to look into the cause immediately."
Deal with
Meaning: To manage or take action on a task or problem. Example: "That's an important point. Sarah, could you deal with the client's request after the meeting?"
Wrap up
Meaning: To finish or conclude something. Example: "We're running out of time, so let's wrap up this discussion in the next five minutes."
Conclusion
In conclusion, incorporating these common phrasal verbs for a business meeting in English into your vocabulary is a powerful step toward professional fluency. Don't be intimidated by them. Start by listening for them in meetings, then try using one or two in your next conversation. With practice, these essential phrases will become a natural part of your business English toolkit.
Frequently Asked Questions About Business Phrasal Verbs
What are the easiest business phrasal verbs to learn first?
Start with high-frequency verbs that have clear meanings, such as 'set up' (to arrange), 'call off' (to cancel), and 'follow up' (to continue communication). These are used daily in most offices.
How can I practice using phrasal verbs for work?
The best way is to listen actively in meetings and note how colleagues use them. Then, try to create your own sentences relevant to your job. You can also practice with a language partner or write emails using the new vocabulary.
What's the difference between 'put off' and 'call off'?
They are very different! To 'put off' (or 'push back') something means to postpone it to a later time or date. To 'call off' something means to cancel it completely. For example, "We put off the meeting until Friday," vs. "We called off the meeting entirely."
Why do native English speakers use so many phrasal verbs in business?
Native speakers use phrasal verbs because they are an efficient and often more descriptive way to communicate. They are a core part of informal and semi-formal English, making speech sound more dynamic and less robotic than using only their single-word equivalents (e.g., 'put off' vs. 'postpone').
Is it unprofessional to use phrasal verbs in a formal meeting?
Not at all. While you might choose more formal single-word verbs for legal documents (e.g., 'investigate' instead of 'look into'), phrasal verbs are standard and completely professional in most business contexts, including meetings, presentations, and emails.