7 Advanced Business English Phrases to Sound More Professional at Work

When you're in a business meeting, it's easy to get lost in endless details and side conversations. But strong communicators know how to cut through the noise and focus on what really matters. In this article, you'll learn practical phrases that help you steer discussions, address the main issues, and move projects forward with confidence. These are the expressions real professionals use every day to sound clear, decisive, and natural at work. Let’s dive in!

What Would You Do In This Situation?

Imagine this:

Your team is in a meeting, discussing why a recent project missed its targets. People start talking about small side issues, past mistakes, and other distractions. Instead of wasting time, you suggest the team zero in on the main issue — the real reason behind the missed goals. By focusing on what truly matters, you can find a clear solution faster.

What does "zero in on something" mean?

ZERO IN ON something

phrasal verb

to focus all your attention on one specific issue

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Play the example dialogue

Jane: We keep talking about delays and budget problems, but I don't think that's the real issue here.

Mark: I agree. We've been discussing various issues, but I think we really need to zero in on the main issue, which is the lack of clear communication between teams. Once we fix that, the other problems will be much easier to handle.

Learn More Advanced Business English Phrases for Clear, Professional Communication

Let's learn more advanced Business English phrases that will help you speak clearly and sound professional.

Please follow the steps below.

Step 1. Match the two parts of each sentence.

Check if you matched correctly by reading the example sentences in Step 2 below.

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Step 2. Read the Business English phrases and their definitions, check the example sentences.

ZERO IN ON THE MAIN ISSUE

to focus directly on the most important problem

Let’s zero in on the main issue instead of getting distracted by small details.

DOUBLE DOWN ON OUR EFFORTS

to work even harder and put in more energy to reach a goal

We need to double down on our efforts if we want to hit this quarter’s targets.

MAP OUT A PLAN

to carefully plan all the steps

Let’s map out exactly what needs to happen next so we’re all on the same page.

PHASE OUT AN OLD SYSTEM

to slowly stop using an old system over time

We’re planning to phase out the old system by the end of the year.

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PULL THE PLUG ON THE PROJECT

to stop the project completely

If sales don’t improve, we might have to pull the plug on the project.

BRING IDEAS TO THE TABLE

to share your ideas in a discussion

Thanks for bringing those new ideas to the table — they really helped.

GAIN TRACTION

to start making progress or becoming successful after a slow start

The new marketing strategy is finally gaining traction.

Step 3. Choose the correct option to complete each sentence.

Step 4. Leave us a comment below! Try using one of these phrases in a sentence — we’d love to see your examples.

Thanks for learning with us!