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Business English Phrasal Verbs for Mistakes: 6 Must-Know Examples + Quiz
- Erin West
- May 16
- 5 min read
Updated: Oct 7
Mistakes happen to everyone at work, but the way you talk about them makes a big difference. In this lesson, we’ll look at six useful Business English phrasal verbs for mistakes. These are the same expressions native speakers use every day when they admit an error, explain what went wrong, or try to fix a problem.
We’ve all been there—you make a mistake at work and keep thinking about it long after the meeting ends. In English, there’s a common phrasal verb we use for this situation.
Today’s Challenge:
Picture this: you missed an important step and can’t stop replaying it in your mind. Which particle completes the sentence?
I keep beating myself _____ over that mistake in the meeting. I should’ve prepared better.
A) down
B) up
C) back
D) out
Choose the correct option and listen to the sentence.
Did you get it right?
Now let’s break it down and look at the different phrasal verbs with beat. You’ll see how each one has a completely different meaning depending on the particle.
What are the three forms of "beat"?
BEAT - BEAT - BEATEN
What does "beat down" mean?
BEAT DOWN
phrasal verb
to lower a price or amount
I beat down the price of the jacket at the market.
They beat down the cost of the project by using recycled materials.
We beat down our electricity bill by switching providers.
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What does it mean to beat yourself up?
BEAT YOURSELF/ MYSELF UP
phrasal verb
to be very hard on yourself when you make a mistake
Don’t beat yourself up for getting lost. It might happen with anyone
He beat himself up all weekend because he forgot the meeting.
I always beat myself up when I miss a call from my boss.
What does "beat back" mean?
BEAT BACK
phrasal verb
to stop or control something that is coming at you, like an attack, criticism, or even a strong feeling
The army beat back the enemy attack.
The company beat back criticism with a clear explanation.
He tried to beat back his anger during the meeting.
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What does "beat out" mean?
BEAT OUT
phrasal verb
to do better than others and win something
Our small team beat out three larger teams in the competition.
She beat out her classmates for the top grade.
This new phone beat out all the old models in sales.
That's right! The correct answer is B) up.
Learn more Business English Phrasal Verbs for Talking About Mistakes
Now that you’ve seen how beat changes its meaning with different particles, let’s explore some other phrasal verbs people often use when talking about mistakes at work. These expressions come up in real conversations, meetings, and emails, so knowing them will help you sound more natural and confident. In the next activity, you’ll match each phrasal verb with its definition before practicing them in context.
Please follow the steps below.
Step 1. Match each phrasal verb to its definition.
OWN UP TO (something) | A) to do something wrong or make a mistake |
MESS UP | B) to do something good to correct a mistake or delay |
SLIP UP | C) to say that you did something wrong and accept responsibility for it |
COVER UP | D) to try to hide a mistake or problem instead of fixing it |
MAKE UP FOR something | E) (informal) to make a small or careless mistake |
Want more phrasal verbs and idioms? Check out Money & Debt Phrasal Verbs and Idioms: A Practical Quiz for Business English Learners.
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Step 2. Choose the best word for each blank, then listen to the sentence.
Step 3. Answer the question using 1-2 verbs from Step 1.
What’s a recent mistake you made, and how did you fix it?
ANSWER KEY STEPS 1-2
Step 1.
own up (to something) C
mess up A
slip up E
cover up D
make up for something B
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Step 2.
1. I really _____ up the sales report. Let me correct the figures before the meeting.
A) messed
B) missed
The correct answer is A) messed.
2. Trying to _____ up the mistake only made things worse when the clients noticed.
A) cover
B) close
The correct answer is A) cover.
3. It’s better to _____ up to your mistake and explain how you’ll fix it.
A) own
B) owe
The correct answer is A) own.
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4. To _____ up for the delay, we’ll offer you a 10% discount on your next order.
A) do
B) make
The correct answer is B) make.
5. Sorry, I _____ up on the report – I used last quarter’s numbers by mistake.
A) slapped
B) slipped
The correct answer is B) slipped.
Free PDF download – Practice Business English phrasal verbs
Ready for more practice? Click the image below to try another Business English Quiz!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) - Phrasal Verbs
What are the most common phrasal verbs for mistakes in Business English?
Some of the most common phrasal verbs are mess up, slip up, own up to, cover up, make up for, and beat yourself up. These are often used in the workplace to admit mistakes, explain errors, or describe how to fix them.
How do you use “mess up” in a business context?
You can say “I really messed up the sales report, but I corrected the figures before the meeting.” It means you made a mistake or did something wrong.
What’s the difference between “slip up” and “mess up”?
Slip up usually means a small or careless mistake, while mess up is stronger and can refer to bigger errors with more serious consequences.
What does “own up to a mistake” mean?
It means to admit responsibility.
For example: “The manager had to own up to giving the wrong instructions to the team.”
What does “make up for a mistake” mean?
It means to do something positive to correct or balance out the mistake.
Example: “She stayed late to make up for missing the deadline.”
What does “beat yourself up” mean?
It means to be too hard on yourself when you make a mistake.
For instance: “Don’t beat yourself up about the typo, the client didn’t even notice.”
What’s the difference between “cover up” and “own up to”?
Cover up means hiding the mistake instead of admitting it, while own up to means being honest about it.
Where can I download a free PDF with exercises on phrasal verbs for mistakes?
You can download a free practice PDF with quizzes and exercises on phrasal verbs like mess up, slip up, own up to, cover up, make up for, and beat yourself up here.
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