18 Useful Phrasal Verbs for Work in English

Phrasal verbs are a crucial part of everyday English, especially in professional settings. They add nuance and color to your language, making you sound more natural and confident. This lesson introduces 18 useful phrasal verbs commonly used in English work environments. It’s designed for English beginners and covers vocabulary, pronunciation, and practical application. The lesson aims to help learners improve their English skills and confidently communicate in professional settings.

What are Phrasal Verbs?

Phrasal verbs are combinations of a verb and a preposition or adverb. These combinations create new meanings that are often different from the original verb’s meaning. For example, “look up” means “to search for information.” The verb “look” alone doesn’t convey this meaning.

18 Useful Phrasal Verbs for Work

Here are 18 common phrasal verbs used in work, along with their meanings and examples:

Phrasal Verb	Meaning	Example
**Call off**	Cancel	We had to **call off** the meeting due to the snowstorm.
**Carry out**	Complete, execute	The team is **carrying out** a survey to understand customer preferences.
**Come up with**	Think of, invent	We need to **come up with** a new marketing strategy.
**Deal with**	Handle, manage	The customer service team **deals with** complaints and inquiries.
**Figure out**	Understand, solve	We need to **figure out** why the project is behind schedule.
**Follow up**	Check on, continue	I will **follow up** with you next week to discuss the proposal.
**Get along with**	Have a good relationship with	I **get along with** my colleagues very well.
**Get back to**	Reply, respond	I will **get back to** you as soon as possible.
**Go over**	Review, examine	Let’s **go over** the presentation before the meeting.
**Look into**	Investigate, research	The manager is **looking into** the recent increase in customer complaints.
**Make up**	Invent, fabricate	Don’t **make up** excuses for missing deadlines.
**Point out**	Highlight, emphasize	The CEO **pointed out** the importance of teamwork.
**Put off**	Postpone, delay	We had to **put off** the launch date due to unforeseen circumstances.
**Run into**	Encounter, experience	We **ran into** some technical difficulties during the presentation.
**Set up**	Arrange, establish	The HR department will **set up** a new training program.
**Take on**	Accept, undertake	She **took on** the responsibility of managing the new project.
**Think over**	Consider, contemplate	I need to **think over** the offer before I make a decision.
**Work out**	Resolve, find a solution	We need to **work out** a better way to manage our budget.

Tips for Using Phrasal Verbs

Here are some tips for using phrasal verbs effectively:

• Pay attention to the context. The meaning of a phrasal verb can change depending on the situation.
• Use a dictionary or online resource to check the meaning of a phrasal verb you’re unsure of.
• Practice using phrasal verbs in conversation and writing to improve your fluency.

Conclusion

Learning phrasal verbs is an important step in improving your English skills, especially for professional communication. By mastering these common phrases, you can express yourself more naturally and confidently in the workplace. Remember to practice regularly and don’t be afraid to ask for clarification if you encounter unfamiliar phrasal verbs.