Skyrocket Your Career: The Busy Professional’s Playbook for Phrasal Verbs

Sharing is caring!

In the competitive world of business, mastering the English language is more than a skill—it’s a necessity.

Among the myriad aspects of language learning, phrasal verbs stand out for their ubiquity and complexity, particularly in professional settings.

This article unveils the power of phrasal verbs for busy professionals, providing a clear guide to understanding and using these essential components of business English effectively.

 

The Power of Phrasal Verbs in Business English

Phrasal verbs combine a verb with a preposition or adverb, creating a phrase that often bears a meaning distinct from the original verb.

Their frequent use in everyday English makes them crucial for anyone looking to achieve fluency, especially in a business context where clear and concise communication is paramount.

For busy professionals, the challenge lies not just in understanding these phrasal verbs but in using them accurately and confidently.

Below is a curated list of common phrasal verbs used in business, complete with meanings and examples, designed to aid busy professionals in navigating the complex landscape of business English.

 

1. Set up (to establish or start something)
   • “We need to set up a meeting with the new client next week.”
2. Follow up (to take further actions after an event or meeting)
   • “Please follow up with the supplier about the delayed shipment.”
3. Draw up (to prepare or write a document, contract, or plan)
   • “The legal department is drawing up the contracts for the merger.”
4. Carry out (to execute or perform a task)
   • “The team carried out a thorough market analysis.”
5. Lay off (to dismiss employees from their job)
   • “The company had to lay off several employees due to budget cuts.”
6. Bring up (to mention or introduce a topic)
   • “I’ll bring up the budget issues during the next board meeting.”
7. Look into (to investigate or research)
   • “We need to look into the feasibility of expanding to the Asian market.”
8. Roll out (to officially launch or introduce a new product or service)
   • “The marketing team is preparing to roll out the new advertising campaign.”
9. Go over (to review or examine something carefully)
   • “Let’s go over the quarterly report before the presentation.”
10. Take over (to assume control or responsibility for something)
    • “She will take over the project management role starting next month.”
11. Break down (to separate into parts for detailed analysis)
    • “We need to break down the costs for each department.”
12. Work out (to solve a problem)
    • “We need to work out the issues with our distribution channels.”
13. Cut back (to reduce in amount or size)
    • “The company is cutting back on its expenses.”
14. Kick off (to start or launch something)
    • “The CEO will kick off the annual general meeting with a speech.”
15. Call off (to cancel something)
    • “The deal was called off at the last minute.”
16. Run by/Run past (to present something to someone for review or approval)
    • “I’ll run these ideas by the team during our brainstorming session.”
17. Step down (to resign from a position)
    • “The CFO decided to step down after ten years of service.”
18. Turn around (to change to a positive direction)
    • “The new CEO managed to turn around the company’s fortunes within a year.”
19. Scale up (to increase the size, amount, or production)
    • “We are planning to scale up our operations to meet the growing demand.”
20. Phase out (to gradually stop using something)
    • “The company is phasing out its old software system.”

 

Integrating Phrasal Verbs into Your Professional Vocabulary

For busy professionals keen on advancing their English proficiency, integrating phrasal verbs into your basic business vocabulary is essential.

This combination not only enriches your linguistic capabilities but also ensures you communicate with greater precision in the workplace.

When writing emails, for instance, ‘laying out’ plans or ‘following up’ on meetings showcases your ability to handle complex ideas succinctly.

In presentations, using phrasal verbs to ‘bring up’ important points or ‘back up’ arguments can significantly strengthen your case.

Similarly, starting meetings by ‘kicking off’ with a clear agenda and ‘wrapping up’ with concise summaries ensures effective communication and alignment within your team.

Merging phrasal verbs with your foundational basic business vocabulary enhances your business English, enabling you to express nuanced concepts effortlessly and confidently stand out as a polished communicator in any professional scenario.

This strategy is a bridge to further enriching your language skills, making you adept in navigating complex business discussions.

 

Elevate Your English, Elevate Your Career: The Final Word on Phrasal Verbs

Mastering phrasal verbs is essential for busy professionals who aim to excel in business conversations and navigate the broader business world with confidence.

This guide provides a foundation for understanding and using phrasal verbs, with specific examples tailored to professional contexts.

By incorporating these expressions into your language repertoire, you can elevate your business English and navigate the corporate world with confidence.

Remember, fluency in business English opens doors to new opportunities and is a step toward achieving professional excellence.