Is “note out” a real phrasal verb in English?

No. “Note out” is not a standard English phrasal verb.

Can I say “The company’s announced it will…”?

Yes. Here 's = has (present perfect). For learners, writing it as “The company has announced…” is clearer, but the contraction is correct.

Which Business English phrasal verbs with “out” are most useful?

Back out, single out, rule out, carry out, fill out, phase out, and run out of. These are common in meetings, emails, and reports.

Master Business English Phrasal Verbs with 'Out': Reach Out, Single Out, Rule Out & More

Q: What are Business English phrasal verbs?

They are verbs plus short words like out, up, off, or in that make new meanings used at work. For example, back out means cancel an agreement, and rule out means decide something is not possible.

Q: Why should I learn phrasal verbs with “out”?

They are very common at work: phase out (stop using), single out (choose one person), rule out (decide against). Knowing them helps you sound natural in meetings and emails.

Q: What does “back out” mean?

Agree to do something and later decide not to do it. Example: She backed out of the deal at the last minute.

Q: What does “single out” mean?

Choose one person from a group and give them special attention (often negative, sometimes positive). Example: The boss singled out one employee for praise.

Q: What does “rule out” mean?

Decide that something is not possible or remove an option. Example: We ruled out TV ads because of the budget.

Q: What does “carry out” mean?

Do or complete a task, job, or piece of work. Example: The team will carry out tests before launch.

Q: What does “phase out” mean?

Slowly stop using or making something. Example: The company will phase out plastic packaging over three years.

Q: What does “run out of” mean?

Have no more of something. Example: We ran out of ink and couldn’t print the report.

Q: What does “fill out” mean?

Complete a form or document. Example: Please fill out the online application.

Erin West
Sep 11, 2025
4 min read

Updated: Jan 5

Business English phrasal verbs quiz: boss singles me out in a team meeting.

At work, small phrases make a big difference. In this lesson, you’ll learn Business English phrasal verbs with “out”—back out, single out, rule out, and more. Start with the quick quiz below. Then read the simple meanings and examples of more “out” verbs and take the longer quiz to practice.

Today's Challenge:

You’re in a team meeting. The boss points at you and says your name. Everyone looks at you. You think:

I don’t like it when the boss _____ in front of everyone. It makes me nervous.

A) backs me out

B) notes me out

C) singles me out

D) rules me out

Choose the correct option and listen to the sentence.

Keep scrolling for simple definitions and examples.

What does "back out" mean?

BACK OUT

phrasal verb

to decide not to do something that you had agreed to do

He promised to help with the project, but he backed out at the last minute.
The company backed out of the deal because it was too risky.
She said she would give a talk, but then she backed out.

What does "single out" mean?

SINGLE OUT

phrasal verb

to choose one person from a group and give them special attention (negative or sometimes positive)

The teacher singled me out to answer the hardest question.
The boss singled out one employee for praise.
Nobody likes being singled out when the team makes a mistake.

What does "rule out" mean?

RULE OUT

phrasal verb

to decide that something is not possible, or that someone cannot do something

The doctor ruled out flu after the test.
The company ruled out moving to another city.
He was ruled out of the game because of an injury.

"Note out" is not a real phrasal verb in English.

That's right! The correct answer is C) singles me out.

Learn more Business English phrasal verbs with “out”

Business English phrasal verbs graphic with an office team reviewing a tablet; list includes rule out, back out, fill out, carry out, phase out, single out, run out of.

Now try a quick quiz on Business English phrasal verbs. You’ll complete short, real-life office sentences using phrasal verbs with "out" like back out, single out, rule out, carry out, fill out, phase out, and run out of. Choose the option that sounds most natural for the situation, then check the answer. Ready? Let’s start.

Check the meanings and see how to use these phrasal verbs:

What does "carry out" mean?

CARRY OUT

phrasal verb

to complete something

The IT team will carry out tests before launching the new app.
She carried out the task exactly as the manager asked.

What does "phase out" mean?

PHASE OUT

phrasal verb

to slowly stop using or making something

Our team is phasing out the old software and moving everything to the cloud.
Many schools are phasing out paper homework and using online platforms instead.

What does "run out of" mean?

RUN OUT OF

phrasal verb

to not have any more of something

We ran out of ink and couldn’t print the report.
The café ran out of sandwiches before lunch was over.

What does "fill out" mean?

FILL OUT

phrasal verb

to complete a form or document

Please fill out this form before the interview.
He filled out an online survey about customer service.

Click here to check the meanings of SINGLE OUT, RULE OUT, and BACK OUT.

ANSWER KEY - QUIZ

1. The HR department _____ a survey to measure employee satisfaction and found some surprising results.

A) ran out of

B) carried out

2. The company's announced it will _____ plastic packaging over the next three years.

A) phase out

B) single out

3. The team discussed several marketing strategies but _____ TV ads because the budget was too small.

A) ruled out

B) carried out

4. During the meeting, the manager _____ Jenny for her outstanding work on the client proposal.

A) backed out

B) singled out

5. They _____ of time to finish the project, so they had to ask for an extension.

A) phased out

B) ran out

6. He agreed to present at the conference, but when the deadline got closer, he _____.

A) carried out

B) backed out

7. She _____ the online application in less than ten minutes.

A) filled out

B) singled out

Want more practice? Check out 6 Common Business English Phrases for Problems and Delays at Work

Common Business English Phrases and Collocations, quiz, learn holdup, fallback, shutdown, etc.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What are Business English phrasal verbs?

Business English phrasal verbs are verbs combined with short words like out, up, off, or in. Together they create new meanings often used in professional situations. For example, back out means to cancel an agreement, and rule out means to decide something is not possible.

Why should I learn phrasal verbs with “out”?

Phrasal verbs with out are very common in business. They are used to talk about stopping something (phase out old products), choosing someone (single out an employee), or deciding against an option (rule out an idea). Learning them will help you sound more natural in meetings, emails, and conversations.

How can I practice Business English phrasal verbs?

You can practice by reading definitions, looking at real examples, and using them in short sentences about your own work. Quizzes and role-plays are also great ways to remember them.

What are the most useful Business English phrasal verbs with “out”?

Some of the most useful ones are: back out, single out, rule out, carry out, fill out, phase out, and run out of. These appear often in workplace English, both spoken and written.

Are phrasal verbs formal or informal in business?

Many phrasal verbs are neutral and fine for both speaking and writing. For example, carry out research is professional and common in reports. Others, like back out, are more informal and used more often in conversation than in documents.

How can I remember phrasal verbs more easily?

Connect them to real work situations. For example, if you often send forms, think of fill out a form. If your job includes projects, think of carry out a project. Using them in real sentences from your daily tasks makes them easier to remember.

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.