Business English uses phrasal verbs extensively — especially in meetings, emails, and project management. These phrasal verbs are common in both formal and informal workplace settings.
Meetings and Communication
| Phrasal Verb | Meaning | Example | | --------------- | ------------------------------ | --------------------------------------------- | | bring up | mention a topic | She brought up the budget issue. | | come up | arise / be mentioned | This topic came up in the meeting. | | go over | review | Let's go over the quarterly results. | | run through | rehearse / review quickly | Let me run through today's agenda. | | follow up | check progress / contact again | I'll follow up with the client next week. | | speak up | talk louder / express opinion | Please speak up if you disagree. |
I'd like to bring up a point we didn't go over yesterday.
Projects and Progress
| Phrasal Verb | Meaning | Example | | ---------------- | -------------------- | --------------------------------------------- | | carry out | perform / execute | We carried out a full audit. | | carry on | continue | Let's carry on with the presentation. | | move forward | make progress | We need to move forward with this plan. | | fall behind | fail to keep up | The team fell behind schedule. | | catch up | reach the same level | I need to catch up on my emails. | | phase in | introduce gradually | The company will phase in the new policy. | | phase out | remove gradually | They are phasing out the old system. |
Emails and Documentation
| Phrasal Verb | Meaning | Example | | -------------------------- | ------------------------ | ----------------------------------------- | | send out | distribute | I sent out the agenda yesterday. | | write up | produce a written report | I need to write up the meeting notes. | | fill in / fill out | complete a form | Please fill out this form. | | turn in | submit | She turned in her report early. | | look over | examine quickly | Could you look over this contract? | | note down | write down | Let me note down your email address. |
Relationships and Management
| Phrasal Verb | Meaning | Example | | ------------------------- | --------------------- | ------------------------------------------------ | | take on | accept responsibility | She took on the project lead role. | | step down | resign / leave a role | The CEO stepped down last month. | | hand over | pass responsibility | I need to hand over my tasks before leaving. | | run by / run past | get someone's opinion | Let me run this by the manager. | | deal with | handle / address | Who deals with client complaints? | | report to | be managed by | I report to the head of marketing. |
Common Mistakes
- Overusing phrasal verbs in very formal writing: In a contract or official report, use investigate instead of look into, or submit instead of turn in.
- Wrong particle: ~~Let's go over~~ is correct (review); ~~Let's go through~~ also works. However, ~~Let's go around~~ changes meaning entirely.
- Separating inseparable phrasal verbs: ~~I reported my manager to~~ → I report to my manager (cannot split).
- Forgetting up in follow up with: ~~I'll follow with you later.~~ → I'll follow up with you later.