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5 Business English Phrasal Verbs for Meetings: When You Need to Choose Between Two Options
- 5 days ago
- 5 min read
Updated: 9 hours ago
When you need to choose between two options in a meeting, you may need to do more than simply say which one you prefer. You might question one option, remove it from consideration, or help the group agree on a final choice.
In this article, you’ll learn five common Business English phrasal verbs for meetings. You’ll see what each one means and how to use it naturally when discussing options and making decisions at work.
For a wider range of phrasal verbs used in meetings and negotiations, see our main guide: Business English Negotiation Phrases: Essential Phrasal Verbs You Need to Know.
Quick Guide to the Five Phrasal Verbs
These verbs are used at different points in the discussion—from questioning an option to making the final choice.
Phrasal verb | Meaning |
push back on | to question or object to an idea, plan, or request |
rule out | to remove an option from consideration |
narrow down (to) | to reduce the number of possible options |
go with | to choose an option |
settle on | to make a final choice after considering the options |
Now try using one in a workplace situation.
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Workplace Scenario
Read the situation below.
The Annual Conference You work for an engineering association. You help organize its annual conference. This year, the conference will be held in the United States. About 40% of the attendees will travel from outside the United States. The association is choosing between Denver and Chicago. The hotel in Denver would cost $25,000 less. Chicago is more expensive, but most international attendees could fly there directly. Many would need a connecting flight to reach Denver. At a planning meeting, the treasurer says the higher price is enough to reject Chicago. You’re worried that some international attendees may not come if the conference is in Denver.
What would you say to the treasurer?
Say your answer out loud before you continue.
Listen to the sample response
Workplace Quiz: Chicago or Denver?
Choose the phrasal verb that best completes the sentence. Then listen to the full response again.
I wouldn’t _____ Chicago yet. Saving $25,000 sounds good, but do we really want people hanging out in airports for hours? How about going back to the Chicago hotel? They might be able to do better on the price.
A) work out
B) narrow down
C) roll out
D) rule out
Answer
5 Business English Phrasal Verbs for Discussing Options and Making Decisions
Choosing between two options is rarely as simple as picking one and moving on. There’s usually some back-and-forth before everyone agrees. The five phrasal verbs below often come up in that kind of conversation.
PUSH BACK ON
phrasal verb
to object to or question an idea, plan, or request
They want everything by Friday, but we need to push back on that deadline.
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RULE OUT
phrasal verb
to remove something from consideration
We can rule out the airport hotel—it doesn’t have enough meeting rooms.
NARROW DOWN (TO)
phrasal verb
to reduce a list of possibilities to a smaller number
We’ve narrowed it down to Chicago and Denver.
LISTEN
Listen to narrow down in a short workplace dialogue.
What does "They're pushing back on the price" mean?
Answer
What does "They're pushing back on the price" mean?
A) They are accepting it
B) They are objecting to it
C) They are announcing it
D) They are checking it
The correct answer is B.
Review the meaning here.
GO WITH
phrasal verb
to choose an option
I think we should go with Chicago.
LISTEN
Listen to go with in a short workplace dialogue.
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SETTLE ON
phrasal verb
to make a final choice after considering different options
After comparing the three locations, we settled on Chicago.
What does "We’ve narrowed it down to three options" mean?
Answer
What does "We've narrowed it down to three options" mean?
A) We added three options
B) We rejected every option
C) We chose the third option
D) Only three options remain
The correct answer is D.
Review the meaning here.
Which Phrasal Verb Should You Use?
The right phrasal verb depends on what is happening in the discussion.
When… | Use… |
You question or object to an option, but it remains possible. | push back on |
You remove an option completely. | rule out |
You reduce the number of choices. | narrow down |
You choose an option. | go with |
You reach a final choice after considering the alternatives. | settle on |
Practice What You’ve Learned: Take the Quiz
Now it’s your turn to practice. In the short quiz below, choose the correct option for each sentence.
Answer Key
1. After the first interviews, we _____ the list _____ to three candidates.
A) pushed... back
B) narrowed... down
C) settled on... -
The correct answer is B.
2. We’re expecting 60 people. Since one of the rooms only holds 40, we can _____ that one.
A) go with
B) rule out
C) settle on
The correct answer is B.
3. The designer needs our answer today. Everyone is happy with the second design as it is, so we should _____.
A) go with it
B) push back on it
C) rule it out
The correct answer is A.
Want to Practice Using Phrasal Verbs in Real Workplace Situations?
You’ve now learned five phrasal verbs for discussing options—from pushing back on an option to settling on a final choice.
But in a real meeting, no one gives you four answers to choose from. You have to recognize what is happening and build your own response.
That’s why Pro Vocabulary Lab uses scenario-based speaking practice.
What would you say if…
someone wanted to reject an option too quickly?
you needed to reduce a long list to two choices?
the group had considered the options and was ready to make a final decision?
In Pro Vocabulary Lab, you listen to a workplace situation, give your own response, and then hear a natural model response.
Every scenario and model response comes with audio. You can listen as you read, compare your response with the model, and try again.
This helps you build situational confidence—the confidence to recognize which phrase fits the situation and use it in your own response.
Ready to practice what you would say in real workplace situations?
Erin West is a Business English coach, writer, and founder of RealBusinessEnglish.com. She creates practical lessons, quizzes, and workplace scenarios for English learners who want to sound more natural at work. Her lessons include real workplace phrases and everyday business situations, so learners can practice English they can actually use.
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