Phrasal Verbs for Business English

As an English language student, you probably already know that the English language is FULL of phrasal verbs! Some are very casual, while others are appropriate (and necessary) in Business English. Do you know these useful Business English phrasal verbs? Most are used nearly every day by English speakers.

Phrasal Verbs for Business English 

Call (someone) back

Definition: to return a phone call.

Example: “Can I call  you back?”

Transitive? Yes.

Separable? Yes, and obligatory.

Synonyms: return a call, phone someone, give someone a ring 

 

Check on (someone or something)

Definition: to get an update on the status of a person or a project.

Example: “I just wanted to check on you/the project.”

Transitive? Yes.

Separable? No.

Synonyms: get an update on something, get up to speed on something

 

Cut back on (something)

Definition: to spend less.

Example: We need to cut back on the cost of supplies.

Transitive? Yes.

Separable? No.

Synonyms: reduce spending, budget, reduce the budget, spend less on something

 

Hand in (something)

Definition: to give something to someone.

Example: I have to hand in the report by Monday.

Transitive? Yes.

Separable? Yes.

Synonyms: give, present, turn in, supply

max4b
The teacher started talking after he handed out the papers to the students.

Hand out (something)

Definition: to give copies of something to a number of people.

Example: “Please hand out the revised business plan to the employees.”

Transitive? Yes.

Separable? Yes.

Synonyms: pass out, give, give out, provide, supply, distribute

 

Figure out

Definition: to find an answer or solution.

Example: “We figured out why we lost so much money last week.”

Transitive? No.

Separable? Yes.

Synonyms: find the solution, find the answer, discover, realize

She is trying to figure out the answer to the question.
She is trying to figure out the answer to the question.

Lay off

Definition: to fire someone because there are problems with the company (not because there are problems with the employee).

Example: “I was laid off because of the company restructure.”

Transitive? No.

Separable? Yes.

Synonyms: fired, terminated, made redundant (British English)

 

Look over (something)

Definition: to review something.

Example: “I’ll look over the budget before it is approved.”

Transitive? Yes.

Separable? Yes.

Synonyms: review, inspect, read

4.5d_executive-english
She is looking over his answers.

Take on

Definition: to accept a new responsibility or project or employee.

Example: “We took on three new employees in my department.”

Transitive? Yes.

Separable? Yes.

Synonyms: accept, bring on

 

Send out (something)

Definition: to send something.

Example: “I sent out the new memo to all employees of the company.”

Transitive? Yes.

Separable? Yes.

Synonyms: send, mail, email, snail mail

 

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