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10 Must-Know Phrasal Verbs for Business Meetings (with Quiz!)
- Erin West
- Feb 4
- 12 min read
Updated: Oct 4
Business meetings can be stressful if you don’t know the right phrases. Native speakers often use short, natural expressions to keep the discussion moving. That’s why learning phrasal verbs for business meetings is so useful — they help you sound confident, join conversations, and understand your colleagues more easily.
In this lesson, you’ll get:
Clear, simple definitions
Realistic business examples
A quiz to test yourself
Extra practice with audio
Now, let’s look at 10 essential phrasal verbs for business meetings that you’ll hear again and again.
BRING UP
phrasal verb
to mention or introduce a topic
She brought up an important question in the meeting.
I don’t want to bring up budget cuts right now.
GO OVER
phrasal verb
to check or review something carefully by reading or discussing it
Let’s go over the sales report before the call.
We went over the contract together.
RULE OUT
phrasal verb
to say something is not possible or not an option
The manager ruled out working from home full-time.
We can’t rule out another delay.
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MAP OUT
phrasal verb
to plan something in detail
The team mapped out the new project.
She mapped out her career goals.
FOLLOW THROUGH (ON)
phrasal verb
to do what you promised or planned
He always follows through on his commitments.
The company didn’t follow through on the project.
ZERO IN (ON)
phrasal verb
to give your full attention to one specific thing
We need to zero in on the main problem.
The company is zeroing in on new customers.
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DOUBLE DOWN (ON)
phrasal verb
to give even more effort or commitment to something
She doubled down on studying for the exam.
They doubled down on social media ads.
IRON OUT
phrasal verb
to solve small problems or disagreements
Let’s iron out the details before we launch.
They ironed out their differences.
WRAP UP
phrasal verb
to finish something
Let’s wrap up the meeting.
We wrapped up the event with a short speech.
PUSH BACK
phrasal verb
to move something to a later time
The meeting was pushed back to Monday.
They pushed back the launch to fix a few issues.
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Quiz: Practice Phrasal Verbs for Business Meetings
Now that you’ve learned the phrasal verbs, it’s time to practice using them. Below you’ll find a quick quiz with real meeting situations. Each sentence is missing a verb — choose the correct option to complete it and see how well you know these phrasal verbs for business meetings.
Choose the correct phrasal verb to complete each sentence, then listen to the correct answer.
1.
I'd like to _____ a few points regarding the upcoming presentation.
A) go up
B) bring up
C) take up
D) pick up
DEFINITIONS AND CORRECT ANSWER
GO UP
phrasal verb
to increase in level, amount, or price
The price of gas is going up again.
I saw the temperature go up to 90°F today.
The value of my house went up after the renovation.
BRING UP
phrasal verb
to mention or introduce a topic in conversation
She brought up an important issue during the meeting.
I don’t want to bring up the budget cuts right now.
I brought up my concerns about the deadline, but my manager wasn’t worried.
TAKE UP
phrasal verb
to start a new hobby or activity; to use space or time
He decided to take up playing guitar this year.
This sofa takes up too much space in the room.
The meeting will take up the whole afternoon.
PICK UP
phrasal verb
to lift something; to learn or improve something; to collect someone or something
Can you pick up that book from the floor?
She picked up some new skills at her job.
I'll pick you up at 7 PM for dinner.
He picked up the phone and called his friend.
I need to pick up groceries after work.
That's right! The correct answer is B) bring up.
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2.
Can we _____ the numbers one more time before submitting the report?
A) rule out
B) level up
C) go over
D) give up
DEFINITIONS AND CORRECT ANSWER
RULE OUT
phrasal verb
to eliminate something as a possibility or option
They ruled out the idea of a vacation this year.
The doctor ruled out any serious illness.
I don’t think we should rule out his suggestion just yet.
LEVEL UP
phrasal verb
to improve your skills or performance; to move to a higher level
She took extra courses to level up her presentation skills.
The company is trying to level up its customer service.
He leveled up his English after practicing every day.
GO OVER
phrasal verb
to review or discuss something in detail
Let’s go over the contract before we sign it.
Can we go over the schedule one more time before the event?
She went over the report and found a few mistakes.
GIVE UP
phrasal verb
to stop doing something
Don’t give up on your dreams.
She gave up smoking last year.
He gave up trying to fix the old car.
That's right! The correct answer is C) go over.
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3.
We can’t _____ technical issues during the launch, so we need a backup plan.
A) take off B) pick up C) mark down D) rule out
DEFINITIONS AND CORRECT ANSWER
TAKE OFF
phrasal verb
to rise into the air (for an airplane); to become successful or popular; to remove something
The airplane will take off in a few minutes.
His business really took off after the new ad campaign.
She took off her jacket because it was too warm.
PICK UP
phrasal verb
to lift something; to learn or improve something; to collect someone or something
Can you pick up that book from the floor?
She picked up some new skills at her job.
I'll pick you up at 7 PM for dinner.
He picked up the phone and called his friend.
I need to pick up groceries after work.
MARK DOWN
phrasal verb
to reduce the price of something
The store marked down all the winter clothes for the sale.
They marked down the price of the laptop.
The item is marked down 50% today.
RULE OUT
phrasal verb
to say that something is not possible or not allowed
They ruled out his idea because it was too expensive.
I won’t rule out moving to another city for work.
We have ruled out that option due to budget limits.
That's right! The correct answer is D) rule out.
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4.
We should _____ a clear strategy before we start approaching new clients.
A) map out B) take out
C) call off
D) put away
DEFINITIONS AND CORRECT ANSWER
MAP OUT
phrasal verb
to plan something in detail
We spent the morning mapping out our expansion plans.
She mapped out her career goals before making a move.
We’ve mapped out the whole event, so everything should go smoothly.
TAKE OUT
phrasal verb
to remove something from a place; to go out with someone (often on a date)
She took out her phone and checked the time.
The bank robber took out a gun and demanded money.
He took her out to dinner last night.
CALL OFF
phrasal verb
to cancel something that was planned
They had to call off the wedding because of bad weather.
The manager called off the meeting at the last minute.
The police called off the search after three days.
PUT AWAY
phrasal verb
to store or place something in its proper location; to save money
She put away $50 every month for her vacation.
He put away the groceries in the fridge.
The papers need to be put away on the shelf.
That's right! The correct answer is A) map out.
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5.
It's crucial that we _____ on our promises to stakeholders.
A) chicken out
B) follow through
C) run away
D) kick back
DEFINITIONS AND CORRECT ANSWER
CHICKEN OUT
phrasal verb
to decide not to do something because of fear or nerves
He was going to bungee jump but chickened out at the last second.
She chickened out of the presentation because she was too nervous.
They planned to prank the teacher but chickened out.
FOLLOW THROUGH (ON something)
phrasal verb
to do what you promised or planned to do
She always follows through on her commitments, which is why people trust her.
They started building the park last year, but the city didn’t follow through on the project.
He always has great ideas, but he rarely follows through on them.
RUN AWAY
phrasal verb
to leave quickly to escape a place or situation, often without permission
The thief ran away before the police arrived.
She wanted to run away from her problems instead of facing them.
He ran away in fear when he saw the big dog.
KICK BACK
phrasal verb
to relax and take it easy; to illegally give money in return for favors (informal)
After a long day at work, I just want to kick back and watch TV.
He kicked back in his chair and closed his eyes.
The businessman was caught kicking back money to government officials.
That's right! The correct answer is B) follow through.
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6.
A common mistake is focusing on surface issues. Instead, we need to _____ the customer’s real needs.
A) run out of B) bump into C) let go of D) zero in on
DEFINITIONS AND CORRECT ANSWER
phrasal verb
to have no more of something left
I ran out of gas on the way home.
She ran out of time before finishing the test.
They ran out of ideas for the project.
BUMP INTO someone
phrasal verb
to meet someone unexpectedly
I bumped into an old friend at the mall.
We bumped into each other at the airport.
He bumped into his boss while out for dinner.
LET GO OF something
idiom
to release something or stop holding on to it; to stop being attached to something emotionally
He let go of the rope and fell into the water.
She let go of her past and moved on.
The company had to let go of some employees.
ZERO IN (ON something)
phrasal verb
to focus on something specific
The company is zeroing in on new ways to improve customer service.
I need to zero in on the main issue before the meeting.
We should zero in on our goals for this quarter.
That's right! The correct answer is D) zero in on.
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7.
I think if we really want to reach more customers, we should _____ on social media advertising.
A) turn down
B) back off C) double down
D) drop off
DEFINITIONS AND CORRECT ANSWER
TURN DOWN
phrasal verb
to refuse an offer or request; to lower the volume or intensity
She turned down the job offer.
He turned down the music because it was too loud.
They turned down my idea for the project.
BACK OFF
phrasal verb
to move away or stop being too involved in something
The manager told him to back off and let the team handle the problem.
When the dog barked, he quickly backed off.
She decided to back off from the argument before it got worse.
phrasal verb
to put in even more effort or commitment to something
He doubled down on learning English by taking extra classes.
He was criticized for his idea, but he doubled down on it and proved everyone wrong.
Instead of giving up, she doubled down on studying and passed the exam.
DROP OFF
phrasal verb
1. to take someone or something to a place and leave them there
She dropped off the package at the post office.
I’ll drop you off at the airport on my way to work.
He dropped off the documents at the client’s office.
2. to become fewer, weaker, or less
Sales usually drop off after the holiday season.
Attendance at the workshop dropped off in the afternoon.
Interest in the product dropped off once the price went up.
That's right! The correct answer is C) double down.
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8.
Before we move forward, we should take some time to _____ the details so everything’s clear when we meet with the client.
A) let down
B) drop by
C) make up
D) iron out
DEFINITIONS AND CORRECT ANSWER
LET DOWN
phrasal verb
to disappoint someone
He let me down by canceling our plans.
Don’t let your team down!
I promise I won’t let you down.
DROP BY
phrasal verb
to visit someone or a place briefly, without a formal plan
I’ll drop by your office later.
She dropped by to say hello.
They dropped by my house unexpectedly.
MAKE UP
phrasal verb
to create a story or excuse; to become friends again after a fight
He made up a story about being late.
She made up an excuse for missing class.
He made up a funny joke.
IRON OUT
phrasal verb
to fix small problems or disagreements
We had a few issues, but we ironed them out quickly.
Let’s iron out the schedule before we send it to the team.
They need to iron out their differences before signing the contract.
That's right! The correct answer is D) iron out.
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9.
Let’s _____ the project by Friday; that way, we can focus on reviewing the results and planning the next steps.
A) wrap up B) turn off C) let down D) get down
DEFINITIONS AND CORRECT ANSWER
phrasal verb
to finish something
Let’s wrap up this call so everyone can get back to work.
It’s getting late—let’s wrap things up for today.
We wrapped up the event with a thank-you speech.
TURN OFF
phrasal verb
to stop a device or machine; to make someone lose interest
Please turn off the lights.
He turned off his phone during the meeting.
Loud music turns some people off.
LET DOWN
phrasal verb
to disappoint someone
He let me down by canceling our plans.
Don’t let your team down!
I promise I won’t let you down.
GET DOWN
phrasal verb
to lower oneself physically; to make someone feel sad
Get down from the table!
The news really got him down.
Don’t let bad days get you down.
That's right! The correct answer is A) wrap up.
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10.
We had to _____ the deadline because the project took longer than expected.
A) take off B) move out C) pull over D) push back
DEFINITIONS AND CORRECT ANSWER
TAKE OFF
phrasal verb
to leave the ground (for airplanes); to become successful; to remove something
The plane took off at noon.
His business took off after the ad campaign.
The singer’s career took off after her first hit song.
I need to take off my shoes before entering the house.
MOVE OUT
phrasal verb
to leave a home or apartment to live somewhere else
He moved out of his parents’ house at 18.
They moved out last weekend.
We moved out of the old apartment and into a new one.
PULL OVER
phrasal verb
to stop a vehicle at the side of the road
The police told him to pull over.
He pulled over to check his GPS.
I pulled over to answer the phone.
phrasal verb
to move something to a later time or date
The meeting was pushed back to next Monday.
They decided to push back the launch to fix some last-minute issues.
The event was pushed back due to bad weather.
That's right! The correct answer is D) push back.
Ready to practice?
Download the full PDF to test yourself with matching and fill-in-the-blank exercises on 10 essential business phrasal verbs. Perfect for B1–B2 learners who want to sound more confident in meetings.
Download the Quick Reference Guide: Phrasal Verbs for Business Meetings
FAQ: Phrasal Verbs for Business Meetings
What are the most common phrasal verbs used in business meetings?
Some of the most common are bring up, go over, rule out, map out, push back, wrap up, iron out, zero in on, double down on, and follow through on. These are everyday phrases native speakers use to keep discussions clear and efficient.
How can I practice phrasal verbs for business English?
The best way is to use them in real sentences and role-play short meeting situations. You can also do quizzes, matching tasks, and listen to audio examples. Downloading reference guides and practice PDFs makes review easier.
What does “push back a meeting” mean?
It means to move a meeting to a later time or date.
Example: “The meeting was pushed back to Monday.”
What does “wrap up a meeting” mean?
It means to finish the meeting.
Example: “Let’s wrap up this call so everyone can get back to work.”
What is the difference between “go over” and “look over”?
Both mean to review, but go over suggests a careful, detailed check (often in meetings). Look over is a quicker check, usually less detailed.
Why should I learn phrasal verbs for meetings?
Phrasal verbs make your English sound more natural and professional. They help you join discussions, understand colleagues better, and build confidence in meetings.
Are phrasal verbs formal enough for business?
Yes. While some phrasal verbs are casual, many (like bring up, go over, iron out, wrap up) are standard in professional meetings and emails.
How can I remember phrasal verbs more easily?
Connect each verb to a real situation at work. For example, imagine your boss saying “Let’s iron out the details before we sign the contract.” Linking phrasal verbs to context makes them easier to remember.
What does “iron out” mean in business?
It means to fix small problems or disagreements before finishing something.
Example: “Let’s iron out the details before we launch the project.”
What does “zero in” mean?
It means to focus closely on one specific issue.
Example: “We need to zero in on the main problem before we discuss solutions.”
What does “follow through” mean at work?
It means to do what you promised or planned.
Example: “She always follows through on her commitments, which is why people trust her.”
What does “double down” mean in business English?
It means to increase your effort or commitment to something.
Example: “After strong online sales, the company doubled down on digital marketing.”
This article is brought to you by RealBusinessEnglish.com, where learning Business English is practical, professional, and just the right amount of fun.
