The most common phrasal verbs used in business meetings help professionals start, delay, discuss, and conclude topics efficiently. Key examples include 'kick off' (to start), 'put off' (to postpone), 'go over' (to review), and 'wrap up' (to finish), which are essential for clear and natural corporate communication.
Stepping into a professional setting can feel like learning a new language, especially when native speakers use idiomatic expressions. If you want to improve your business English and participate confidently, understanding the common phrasal verbs used in business meetings is crucial. These multi-word verbs are the backbone of natural, fluent communication in the workplace, helping you sound less like a textbook and more like a colleague.
Why Are Phrasal Verbs So Important in Business English?
Phrasal verbs combine a standard verb with a particle (like an adverb or preposition) to create a new meaning. For example, 'look' is simple, but 'look into' means to investigate. Using them correctly shows a high level of English proficiency and helps you integrate seamlessly into a corporate environment. They are used to make instructions, suggestions, and decisions sound more natural and less direct.
What are the Most Common Phrasal Verbs Used in Business Meetings for Starting and Discussing?
Meetings have a natural flow: starting, discussing, problem-solving, and concluding. Different phrasal verbs are used at each stage. Here are the essential ones you'll hear and use constantly.
Phrasal Verbs for Getting Started
- Kick off
- Meaning: To start or begin something, like a meeting or project.
- Example: "Alright everyone, let's kick off this meeting. Thanks for joining."
- Bring forward
- Meaning: To move a meeting or event to an earlier date or time.
- Example: "Could we bring forward the weekly sync to 10 AM instead of 11 AM?"
- Push back / Put off
- Meaning: To postpone or delay a meeting or event to a later time or date.
- Example: "We'll have to push back the decision until we have the final data. Let's put off the product launch meeting until next Friday."
Phrasal Verbs for Discussions and Presentations
- Go over
- Meaning: To review or examine something carefully.
- Example: "Before we begin, I'd like to go over the agenda for today's call."
- Bring up
- Meaning: To introduce a topic for discussion.
- Example: "That's a good point. I'd also like to bring up the budget for Q4."
- Deal with
- Meaning: To manage, handle, or take action on a problem or task.
- Example: "The IT department will deal with the server issue immediately."
- Look into
- Meaning: To investigate or research a problem or situation.
- Example: "I'm not sure about those figures. I'll look into it and get back to you."
- Come up with
- Meaning: To think of and suggest an idea, plan, or solution.
- Example: "The marketing team needs to come up with a new campaign slogan by tomorrow."
How Can I Use Phrasal Verbs to Conclude a Meeting?
Ending a meeting clearly is just as important as starting it well. These phrasal verbs signal that the discussion is coming to a close and outline the next steps.
- Wrap up / Sum up
- Meaning: To finish or summarize the main points of a discussion or meeting.
- Example: "We're running out of time, so let's wrap up. To sum up, we've agreed on the new deadline and budget."
- Follow up
- Meaning: To contact someone later to give or get more information.
- Example: "I will follow up with an email summarizing the action points from this meeting."
Tips for Mastering Common Phrasal Verbs Used in Business Meetings
Learning these expressions takes practice. Here are a few tips to help you master this essential part of business vocabulary:
- Focus on Context: Don't just memorize lists. Pay attention to how colleagues use these verbs in real meetings and emails.
- Start Small: Choose two or three phrasal verbs and try to use them in your next meeting or email. For example, try starting a discussion with, "I'd like to bring up..." or ending it with, "Let's wrap up for today."
- Keep a Notebook: Write down new phrasal verbs you hear, along with the sentence they were used in. Review it regularly.
- Practice with a Partner: Role-play a business meeting with a friend or language partner to build confidence.
By integrating these common phrasal verbs used in business meetings into your professional vocabulary, you'll not only understand more but also communicate your own ideas with greater clarity and confidence. It’s a key step towards true fluency in business English.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q1: What's the difference between 'put off' and 'push back' in a meeting?
Both mean to postpone, and they are often used interchangeably in business communication. 'Push back' is very common in corporate settings for moving deadlines or meetings, while 'put off' can sometimes imply a more indefinite delay. For example, "Let's push back the 2 PM meeting to 3 PM," is specific, whereas, "Let's put off the discussion," could be less specific about rescheduling.
Q2: How do I use 'follow up' correctly after a meeting?
'Follow up' refers to the action you take after a meeting. You can 'follow up' *with* someone (e.g., "I will follow up with John"). You can also 'follow up' *on* or *about* a topic (e.g., "I need to follow up on the action items"). It is most commonly used to promise a future communication, like an email or a call.
Q3: Can I use informal phrasal verbs in a formal business meeting?
It depends on the verb and the company culture. The phrasal verbs listed in this article (like 'kick off', 'go over', 'wrap up') are standard professional English. However, very informal phrasal verbs (e.g., 'chill out', 'hang out') are not appropriate for most business contexts.
Q4: What is the best way to learn business English phrasal verbs?
The best way is through exposure and active use. Listen to how they are used in business podcasts, TV shows, and real meetings. Then, practice using them in low-stakes situations, like in an email to a trusted colleague, before using them in a high-pressure presentation.