Phrasal verbs for work: the ones you actually need

Phrasal verbs are everywhere in business English, and they are often the reason fluent speakers still sound a little formal. You don’t need hundreds. These are the ones that come up again and again in meetings, projects and emails, with an example of each.

In meetings

• bring upto mention a topic“I’d like to bring up the delivery dates.”
• go overto review something carefully“Let’s go over the numbers one more time.”
• run throughto explain or check something quickly“Can you run through the main points?”
• point outto draw attention to something“She pointed out a mistake in the report.”
• put forwardto suggest an idea formally“He put forward a new proposal.”

On projects

• set upto organise or start something“Can we set up a call for Thursday?”
• carry outto do or complete a task“We carried out a full review last quarter.”
• take onto accept new work or responsibility“I can’t take on another project right now.”
• come up withto create an idea or solution“We need to come up with a plan B.”
• hand overto pass responsibility to someone“I’ll hand over the account before I go on holiday.”

Solving problems

• sort outto solve or organise“Don’t worry, I’ll sort it out.”
• look intoto investigate“We’re looking into the issue.”
• rule outto exclude an option“We can’t rule out a delay.”
• push backto resist or delay“The client pushed back on the price.”

Emails and follow-up

• follow up onto check on something later“I’m just following up on my last email.”
• get back toto reply later“I’ll get back to you by Friday.”
• catch upto talk and update each other“Can we catch up after the meeting?”