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Business English Phrasal Verbs for Work (with Examples + Free PDF Worksheet)
- Erin West
- Apr 19
- 6 min read
Updated: Oct 23
Welcome to the Business English Phrasal Verbs Quiz!
Meeting expectations at work isn’t always easy. You may need to impress your boss, keep a client happy, or manage a major project. That’s where the right language makes a difference.
Today’s Focus:
In this lesson, you’ll learn 8 essential Business English phrasal verbs for work — common expressions used to talk about meeting goals, taking responsibility, and getting things done.
Today’s Challenge:
Your boss wants good results.
Your clients want fast replies.
Your coworkers need help.
It can feel hard to do everything people expect. What do you say?
It’s hard to ___ everyone’s expectations sometimes.
A) hold up
B) keep on up
C) keep up with
D) hold up to
Choose the correct option and listen to the sentence.
Did you get it right?
Let's explore:
What does "hold up" mean?
HOLD UP
phrasal verb
to delay something or someone
Sorry, I'm late—traffic held me up.
The meeting was held up by technical issues.
Don’t let one problem hold up the whole project.
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KEEP ON UP
not a correct phrasal verb
What does "keep up with something" mean?
KEEP UP WITH
phrasal verb
to stay at the same level as someone or something; to not fall behind
It's hard to keep up with all the new updates.
She reads every day to keep up with her industry.
They struggled to keep up with the growing demand.
What does "hold up to something" mean?
HOLD UP to something
phrase
to remain strong or good when tested or used
This material holds up to regular washing.
Does the theory hold up to scrutiny?
The claim didn’t hold up to close inspection.
That's right! The correct answer is C) keep up with.
Learn More Business English Phrasal Verbs for Work
When people talk about performance at work, they often use phrasal verbs. These expressions are key to understanding feedback, goals, and responsibilities. Let’s take a look at some of the most useful ones that will help you follow conversations and express yourself more naturally at work.
LIVE UP TO (expectations)
phrasal verb
to be as good as people expected, to meet a standard
The product didn’t live up to our expectations — it was slow and hard to use.
She worked hard to live up to her new role as team leader.
The hotel looked great online, but it didn’t live up to the photos.
MEASURE UP TO (expectations)
phrasal verb
to be good enough compared to someone or something else
The new assistant is nice, but he doesn’t measure up to the last one.
I’m not sure this plan measures up to what the client wanted.
His presentation didn’t really measure up to our standards.
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STEP UP
phrasal verb
to take more responsibility
When our manager left, Sara stepped up and led the team.
We need someone to step up and take control of the situation.
Jason finally stepped up and admitted his mistake.
TAKE ON (responsibility, projects)
phrasal verb
to accept new work or responsibility
I can’t take on another project right now — I’m too busy.
She took on a leadership role in the new department.
We’re taking on more clients this quarter.
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phrasal verb
to succeed in doing something difficult
Nobody thought we could finish the project on time, but we pulled it off.
It was a risky move, but they pulled it off perfectly.
He managed to pull off a great presentation without any notes.
CARRY OUT (a task, plan)
phrasal verb
to complete a task or a plan
The team carried out the project successfully.
Please carry out the instructions carefully.
They’re carrying out a full review of the process.
More quizzes = More confidence. Take the next challenge here!
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FOLLOW THROUGH
phrasal verb
to finish something you started or promised to do
We need to follow through on the plan we agreed on.
He says he’ll help, but he never follows through.
The company is finally following through on its promise to improve training.
KEEP UP WITH (expectations)
phrasal verb
to stay at the same level or speed as others or as expected
It’s hard to keep up with all these deadlines.
She works quickly — I can’t keep up with her sometimes.
We need to keep up with the latest trends in the market.
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Practice These Common Business English Phrasal Verbs in Real Work Situations
Now it’s your turn to put these phrasal verbs into practice. Try the short quiz below and see how well you can use them in real workplace situations. Choose the most natural answer and listen to each sentence.
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Grab the Business English Phrasal Verbs for Work worksheet (PDF) — a quick, practical way to review and build confidence before your next meeting.
Download the PDF Guide: 8 Essential Phrasal Verbs for Meeting Expectations at Work
ANSWER KEY
1. We thought the event would be a disaster, but somehow they managed to ______.
A) take it on
B) follow through it
C) pull it off
2. After our manager left unexpectedly, Jen had to ______ and lead the meeting.
A) keep up with
B) step up
C) live up to
3. I’ve already got three major projects, so I really can’t ______ anything else right now.
A) measure up to
B) follow through
C) take on
4. The auditors will ______ a full review of our financial records next week.
A) step up
B) carry out
C) live up to
5. The pressure to meet all these deadlines is intense — I’m struggling to ______ everything.
A) keep up with
B) live off
C) step up
6. That proposal just doesn’t ______ what the client asked for. We’ll need to revise it.
A) pull off
B) take on
C) measure up to
7. They promised to improve communication, but they didn’t ______.
A) carry out
B) pull off
C) follow through
8. He’s doing a good job, but he still has a lot to prove if he wants to ______ the team’s expectations.
A) live up to
B) follow through
C) step up
Ready for more? Click the image below to try another Business English Phrasal Verbs Quiz!
Frequently Asked Questions - Business English Phrasal Verbs
What are business English phrasal verbs?
Business English phrasal verbs for work are expressions made of a verb plus a short word like on, up, or off that change the meaning of the verb. They’re common in office and professional settings — for example, take on (accept responsibility), step up (take action), or pull off (succeed at something). These verbs make your English sound more natural in meetings, emails, and everyday conversations at work.
Why should I use phrasal verbs at work instead of formal verbs?
Using the right phrasal verbs helps you sound clear, confident and professional—especially in spoken and informal business settings. They match how native speakers talk about tasks, responsibilities, goals and outcomes. This article covers 8 key ones with examples so you can see how they’re used in real work situations.
How can I practice these phrasal verbs and actually remember them?
You can try these simple ways:
Complete the quiz in this article.
Download the free PDF worksheet to review and use the verbs yourself.
Write your own short sentences or mini role-plays using the verbs.
Listen for them in meetings, podcasts, or work emails to see how native speakers use them.
The key is to use them regularly in your own context — that’s how they stick.
Do I use all phrasal verbs the same way (separable vs. inseparable)?
No. Some phrasal verbs are separable — you can move the object, like take the project on or take on the project. Others are inseparable, meaning you can’t split them, like live up to expectations (not live expectations up to).The article gives clear examples for each, so you can see how to use them correctly.
Can I use the PDF worksheet with my team or students?
Yes. The free PDF worksheet that comes with the article is designed for both individual and group practice. You can download it, share it with colleagues or students, and use the exercises to review the eight phrasal verbs together.
What’s the difference between a phrasal verb and an idiom?
A phrasal verb is a verb plus a small word (like take on or step up) that changes the meaning of the verb. An idiom is a fixed expression whose meaning isn’t clear from the words themselves — like think outside the box or hit the ground running. Phrasal verbs are usually more flexible in grammar; idioms are fixed phrases.
Are phrasal verbs too informal for Business English?
Not at all. Many phrasal verbs are perfectly natural — and expected — in meetings, emails, and conversations at work. For example, follow up, carry out, and bring up are common even in formal settings. Just avoid very casual ones (like chill out) in professional writing.
How can I sound more confident using phrasal verbs at work?
Use them in short, simple sentences first — like Let’s go over the numbers or We need to figure this out. Listen to how native speakers use them in meetings or podcasts, then imitate their tone and rhythm. The more you use them naturally, the more confident and fluent you’ll sound.
Where can I find more examples of business English phrasal verbs?
You can explore more examples in our other articles and quizzes. Each post focuses on a different real-life situation — like teamwork, leadership, or problem-solving — so you can build your vocabulary step by step. Explore more here.
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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