Boost Your Business English: 10 Phrasal Verbs to Thrive in the Global Market
In this blog post, we'll discuss ten English phrasal verbs that are commonly used during business meetings and negotiations that will boost your Business English skills. You will find examples of each phrasal verb in a dialogue below to help you understand how to use them in context. I cannot emphasize enough how important phrasal verbs are for English learners, especially international professionals who want to engage in meetings with native English speakers on equal footing. Your business success can depend on your English language skills (and cultural expertise).
1. Bring up: to introduce a topic for discussion; to mention someone/something
Example:
John: "I'd like to bring up the issue of our budget for the next quarter. We need to be more careful with our spending."
Jane: "That's a good point. Let's look at the numbers and see where we can make cuts."
2. Come up with: to suggest or propose an idea
Example:
Mark: "We need to find a way to increase our sales numbers. Does anyone have any ideas?"
Lamonte: "I've been thinking about it, and I've come up with a few suggestions. We could offer a discount for bulk purchases or launch a new marketing campaign."
3. Follow up: to take action or continue with a plan or task.
Example:
Tom: "I met with the client last week and promised to send them a proposal by Friday. I need to follow up and make sure they received it."
Lisa: "That's a good idea. You should also check if they have any questions or concerns."
4. Get ahead: to make progress or gain an advantage.
Example:
Aaliyah: "Our competitors are launching a new product line next month. We need to get ahead of them and come up with something even better."
Rachel: "I agree. Let's schedule a brainstorming session and see what we can come up with."
5. Hold off: to postpone or delay something.
Example:
Anna: "We were planning to launch our new website next week, but I think we should hold off for a bit."
Carlos: "Why's that?"
Anna: "There are still some issues with the design that need to be fixed."
6. Look into: to investigate or research a matter.
Example:
Kevin: "I heard that our competitor is using a new manufacturing process. We should look into it and see if it's something we can adopt."
Mike: "That's a good idea. I'll assign someone to do some research and report back to us."
7. Put off: to delay or reschedule something.
Example:
Susan: "I'm sorry, but I have to put off our meeting until next week. I have a family emergency and need to attend to it."
Bill: "Of course. I hope everything is okay. We can reschedule for next Tuesday."
8. Run into: to encounter or meet someone unexpectedly.
Example:
Tim: "I was at the airport last week, and I ran into our client from Japan. We had a quick chat about the upcoming project."
Jessica: "That's great. Did they mention anything new or important?"
9. Take up: to start doing something or using a resource.
Example:
Peter: "We should take up the offer from our vendor to upgrade our software. It will save us time and money in the long run."
Courtney: "I agree. Let's schedule a meeting with them and discuss the details."
10. Work out: to find a solution or make something successful.
Example:
Steve: "We've been having some issues with the production line, and I'm not sure how to fix it."
Laura: "Don't worry. We'll work out a plan to address the problem. Let's meet with the team and brainstorm some solutions."
By incorporating these ten Business English phrasal verbs, you will be able to engage in meetings and negotiations in English more fluently.
As always, if you have any questions or want to book sessions with me, don’t hesitate to email me at office@lingualinkdc.net. I am always happy to help.