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5 Business English Phrases for Talking about Progress and Results
How is the new product doing?
More restaurants are ordering your company’s new bag for delivering hot food. A supplier is interested in selling it too. Your director wants an update.
In this article, you will learn five Business English phrases for talking about progress and results. You will see how to use them in workplace situations and practice choosing the right phrase in a quiz.
For more language for discussing results and improvements, see our main guide to talking about performance at work.
Quick Guide: 5 Business English Phrases for Talking about Progress and Results
Here’s a quick look at five phrases for talking about progress and results.
Expression | Meaning |
gain traction | start attracting interest or support |
start to pay off | begin producing good results after time or effort |
catch on | become popular |
take off | grow quickly or become successful very quickly |
make headway | make progress with something you are working on |
Below, you’ll see how these phrases work in realistic workplace situations.
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Workplace Scenario
Read the situation below.
Growing Demand
|
What would you say to your director?
Say your answer out loud before you continue.
Listen to the sample response
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Workplace Quiz: Growing Demand
Choose the phrase that best completes the response. Then listen to the full response again.
It’s starting to _____. We had orders from 46 restaurants last month, and now a regional supplier has asked for pricing on 300 bags. Do you think we should start planning for a larger production run?
A) get cold feet
B) gain traction
C) pass the buck
D) take sides
Answer
That’s right! The correct answer is B) gain traction.
It’s starting to gain traction. We had orders from 46 restaurants last month, and now a regional supplier has asked for pricing on 300 bags. Do you think we should start planning for a larger production run?
Learn what gain traction means here.
5 Business English Phrases for Talking about Progress and Results
Here are five Business English phrases for talking about progress and results. Use this practical workplace vocabulary to describe growing interest in a product and the results of your work.
Match each sentence (1–5) with its meaning (A–E).
1. The proposal gained traction. | A. People are starting to do their jobs better because of what they have learned. |
2. The training is starting to pay off. | B. Customers started buying much more in a short time. |
3. The bag is catching on with restaurants. | C. More people started to show interest in the idea or support it. |
4. Sales took off. | D. We are making progress in fixing the damage. |
5. We are making headway on the repairs. | E. It is becoming a popular choice for businesses that serve food. |
Answer key
C
A
E
B
D
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What does "The idea is gaining traction" mean?
Answer
What does "The idea is gaining traction" mean?
A) It'easier to explain now
B) It costs less to carry out
C) It's attracting less interest than before
D) It's attracting more interest or support
The correct answer is D.
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Complete the sentences using the phrases from this lesson.
Our catering business took _____ after two local hotels started recommending us. Bookings doubled in three months.
Mobile payments are _____ on at our coffee shop, and more customers now pay by phone instead of using cash.
We are making _____ in the negotiations with our bottle supplier, who has agreed to lower the price if we place a larger order.
Our investment in a second oven is starting to _____ off because we can now bake twice as much bread each morning.
Our campaign for the new work boots is gaining _____, with more construction companies requesting samples.
Answer key
off
catching
headway
pay
traction
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What does "Her career took off" mean?
Answer
What does "Her career took off" mean?
A) She took a break from work
B) She had trouble finding work
C) She quickly became successful
D) She changed careers
The correct answer is C.
As an added convenience, Pro Vocabulary members can download a ready-to-print version of these exercises here.
Give the Update Without Searching for Words
Your director asks how the new bag is selling. You know the figures—but can you explain what they mean without searching for words?
In Building Momentum, work on giving that answer in your own words. You’ll also practice the harder updates: explaining why a warehouse can’t open on Monday or how a roofing company plans to reduce overtime costs.
So when someone asks, “Are we getting anywhere with this?”, you’ll have the language to explain where you’re making progress and what’s holding things up.