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Business English Quiz: Useful Phrases to Talk About Delays at Work (With Examples and Quiz)
- Erin West
- May 23
- 6 min read
Updated: Nov 6
Welcome to the Business English Phrases Quiz!
Delays are common in business, but explaining them clearly and professionally can build trust with clients and colleagues. In this Business English quiz, you’ll learn useful phrases to talk about delays at work. You’ll also see real examples so you can feel confident in meetings and emails.
Today’s Focus:
Useful expressions for talking about delays in a professional way.
Today’s Challenge:
Imagine you’re in a meeting, and the client asks why the project isn’t finished yet. You need to explain the situation.
What would you say?
There’s been a ______ delay, but we’re working on it.
A) slow
B) slip
C) slight
D) slim
Choose the correct option and listen to the sentence.
Let’s look at what each option means and how you can use it naturally at work.
SLOW
adjective
not happening or doing something quickly
The internet connection is very slow today.
Sales have been slow this quarter.
He gave a slow and careful response to the question.
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SLIP
noun
a small mistake; a small piece of paper with writing on it
Please fill out this slip and sign it.
He gave me a delivery slip.
It was just a slip, nothing serious.
Looking for practical phrases to lead meetings smoothly? Check out Real-Life Business English Phrases for Meetings.
SLIGHT
adjective
very small
There’s a slight delay.
I felt a slight change.
We made a slight error.
A SLIGHT DELAY
phrase
a short wait that happens before something starts or finishes
There was a slight delay at the airport.
We had a slight delay, but the meeting went well.
The train arrived with a slight delay.
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SLIM
adjective
very small, not likely
There’s a slim chance we’ll win.
The company has slim profits.
His chances are slim.
That's right! The correct answer is C) slight.
Business English Quiz: Common Business English Phrases for Explaining Delays
Now, let’s take a quick Business English quiz to practice more phrases. Choose the best word for each sentence and see how well you can talk about delays at work.
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ANSWER KEY
1. That was a _____ delay in production. We had to stop everything for two days.
A) costly
B) cost
COSTLY
adjective
causing you to lose a lot of money, time, or something important
That was a costly mistake — it delayed the project.
Repairs can be costly if you wait too long.
The delay was costly for the company.
COST
noun
the amount of money needed to buy or do something
The cost of the new software was too high.
What’s the cost of delivery?
We need to keep the cost low.
COST (cost, cost)
verb
if something costs money, you need to pay that amount to get it; if something costs time, you need to spend that time to finish it
The mistake cost us two days of work.
This upgrade will cost around $500.
That error may cost you your client.
The correct answer is A) costly.
2. The missing part might _____ a delay in the project.
A) lead
B) cause
LEAD TO something
verb
to make something happen as a result
Poor planning can lead to delays.
His hard work led to a promotion.
A small mistake might lead to big problems.
CAUSE
verb
to make something happen
The missing part caused a delay.
Stress can cause mistakes.
A small error can cause big problems.
The correct answer is B) cause.
3. Any change now will _____ in a delay.
A) result
B) lead
RESULT IN something
verb
to cause something to happen
The mistake resulted in a delay.
His idea resulted in success.
Bad weather may result in flight cancellations.
See the explanation for LEAD TO something above
The correct answer is A) result.
4. There was an _____ delay because of the storm.
A) unavoidable
B) unappropriate
UNAVOIDABLE
adjective
that cannot be stopped or prevented
There was an unavoidable delay because of the storm.
Illness caused an unavoidable absence.
Sometimes problems are just unavoidable.
UNAPPROPRIATE is not a correct word in English. The correct word is INAPPROPRIATE.
The correct answer is A) unavoidable.
5. Don’t _____ Mike for the delay — the data arrived late.
A) fault
B) blame
FAULT
noun
the responsibility for a mistake or problem
It’s not your fault.
Whose fault was that?
Don’t blame him — it’s not his fault.
BLAME
verb
to say that someone is responsible for a mistake or problem
Don’t blame Mike for the delay.
I blame the weather for the traffic.
She always blames others when something goes wrong.
The correct answer is B) blame.
6. We had a _____ delay — the file wouldn’t open. Everyone was ready, but we had to wait for IT to fix it.
A) last-minute
B) late-minute
LAST-MINUTE
adjective
happening just before something is about to start
We had a last-minute delay before the meeting.
She made a last-minute change to the report.
It was a last-minute decision.
LATE-MINUTE is not a correct phrase in English.
The correct answer is A) last-minute.
Well done! Now you know some of the most useful phrases for talking about delays in business.
Download the PDF on Common Workplace Adjective Collocations
Listen to the sentences from the worksheet
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Nice work! Ready for your next Business English Quiz? Click below to keep going!
FAQ: Business English Phrases for Talking About Delays at Work
What is the most natural way to say “there’s a delay” in business English?
The most common and natural phrase is There’s a slight delay. It sounds professional, calm, and not too negative. You can also say We’re experiencing a small delay or There’s been a minor delay on our side.
What does “a slight delay” mean?
It means a very small delay — usually something short and not serious. It’s often used in emails, meetings, and customer updates to keep the message positive and professional.
What is the difference between "lead to" and "result in" when talking about delays?
Both mean to cause, but:
lead to is more common in conversation
result in is slightly more formal and often used in reports or written explanations
Example: A missing file can lead to a delay. A system error may result in a delay.
How do you professionally explain why a project is delayed?
A clear, safe structure is:
State the delay: “There’s been a slight delay.”
Give the reason (brief): “The data arrived late.”
Show action: “We’re already fixing it.”
Set expectations: “We’ll update you shortly.”
This keeps your message honest and confident.
Is it correct to say “unappropriate delay”?
No. “Unappropriate” is not a real word.The correct adjective is “inappropriate.”But in this context, the right expression is “unavoidable delay.”
What is a “last-minute delay”?
A last-minute delay is a delay that happens right before something is supposed to start—a meeting, presentation, launch, call, or event.
Example: We had a last-minute delay because the file wouldn’t open.
What’s the difference between “fault” and “blame”?
fault = responsibility for a mistake
blame = say someone caused the mistake
Example: Don’t blame Mike — it wasn’t his fault.
How do I talk about delays without sounding negative or blaming someone?
Use soft, neutral phrases:
“We’re experiencing a slight delay.”
“There’s been a small hold-up, but we’re on it.”
“The timeline has shifted a bit.”
“We’re running a little behind schedule.”
These sound professional and avoid conflict.
What are polite ways to explain delays in emails?
Common, safe phrases include:
“Thanks for your patience — we’re working through a slight delay.”
“There’s been a small delay on our side, but we’ll update you shortly.”
“We’re experiencing a short delay due to a technical issue.”
They sound reassuring and professional.
Which adjectives are commonly used with the word “delay”?
Here are common collocations native speakers use at work:
slight delay
minor delay
costly delay
unavoidable delay
last-minute delay
unexpected delay
These appear frequently in meetings, emails, and project updates.
Erin West is a Business English educator, writer, and founder of RealBusinessEnglish.com. She creates practical lessons, quizzes, and learning materials that help professionals use clear, natural, and confident English at work — with just the right amount of fun.
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