Top 50 Business English Phrasal Verbs

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Phrasal verbs are essential in Business English, frequently appearing in meetings, emails, negotiations, and office communication. This list of 50 business-related phrasal verbs will help you sound more professional, confident, and fluent in workplace interactions.

Bring up – To mention a topic
She brought up an important issue during the meeting.
Call off – To cancel
The manager called off the meeting due to an emergency.
Come up with – To create or generate an idea
We need to come up with a new marketing strategy.
Follow up – To check progress on something
I’ll follow up with the client next week.
Look into – To investigate
The team is looking into the customer complaints.
Run through – To review or explain quickly
Let’s run through the presentation one more time.
Turn down – To reject an offer
They turned down our proposal due to budget issues.
Get across – To communicate clearly
It’s important to get across our main message in the pitch.
Set up – To arrange or establish
Can you set up a meeting with the new supplier?
Work out – To solve or find a solution
We need to work out a new pricing strategy.
Put forward – To suggest or propose
He put forward an interesting idea during the meeting.
Lay out – To present information clearly
She laid out the financial plan in her report.
Back up – To support with evidence
Make sure you back up your argument with data.
Bring in – To involve or introduce
We should bring in an expert to help with this project.
Go over – To review in detail
Let’s go over the report before submitting it.
Get through – To complete a difficult task
We finally got through the negotiation process.
Look over – To examine carefully
Please look over the contract before signing.
Sort out – To organize or fix a problem
We need to sort out these customer complaints quickly.
Move forward – To proceed with a plan
The project is ready to move forward next month.
Point out – To highlight or mention something important
He pointed out a flaw in the budget plan.
Get back to – To respond to someone later
I’ll get back to you with more details soon.
Write up – To prepare a written document
She wrote up the minutes of the meeting.
Bring down – To reduce costs
We need to bring down production expenses.
Keep up with – To stay informed or updated
It’s hard to keep up with all the industry trends.
Check in – To update or touch base
Let’s check in later to discuss progress.
Go ahead – To proceed with something
We got approval to go ahead with the project.
Fill out – To complete a form
Please fill out this application form.
Hand in – To submit something
He handed in his resignation yesterday.
Keep to – To follow a schedule or rule
Try to keep to the deadline for this report.
Note down – To write information
I noted down key points from the call.
Pass on – To give information to someone else
I’ll pass on your message to the manager.
Follow through – To complete a task
She always follows through on her commitments.
Step up – To take more responsibility
We need someone to step up and lead this team.
Close down – To shut a business permanently
The company closed down due to financial issues.
Pull out – To withdraw from an agreement
They pulled out of the deal at the last moment.
Put off – To delay
We had to put off the launch due to technical issues.
Settle on – To decide on something
We finally settled on a new advertising strategy.
Wrap up – To finish
Let’s wrap up the meeting and go to lunch.
Step down – To resign or leave a position
The CEO stepped down after five years.
Follow up on – To continue checking on something
Can you follow up on that client request?
Take over – To assume control
She took over the leadership of the department.
Hand over – To transfer responsibility
He handed over the project to his colleague before leaving.
Keep up – To maintain performance
It’s important to keep up with industry changes.
Look after – To take care of
She looks after the company’s marketing strategies.
Deal with – To manage a situation
We need to deal with these client complaints immediately.
Carry out – To complete a task
The team carried out extensive research before the launch.
Think over – To consider carefully
Take some time to think over the proposal before deciding.
Go by – To follow (a rule)
We need to go by the company guidelines.
Hold off – To delay action
Let’s hold off on making the final decision until next week.
Look forward to – To anticipate positively
I look forward to working with you.

Business English Phrasal Verbs Quiz

We need to ______ a new marketing strategy before the deadline.
- a) Come up with
- b) Put off
- c) Look into
The CEO ______ from his position last month.
- a) Took over
- b) Stepped down
- c) Brought up
Can you ______ this report before I submit it?
- a) Look over
- b) Bring up
- c) Hand in
She will ______ the team while the manager is away.
- a) Take over
- b) Hand in
- c) Follow up
The company had to ______ its expansion plans due to budget cuts.
- a) Carry out
- b) Put off
- c) Keep up with
Let’s ______ the proposal before we finalize it.
- a) Go over
- b) Look after
- c) Take over
He ______ an interesting idea at the meeting.
- a) Brought up
- b) Turned down
- c) Wrapped up
The manager asked me to ______ key points from the meeting.
- a) Note down
- b) Keep to
- c) Step up
We need to ______ these issues before launching the product.
- a) Sort out
- b) Bring in
- c) Hold off
The company is trying to ______ its production costs.