Here you will learn 22 phrasal verbs for business English.
These new words will help you expand your English vocabulary and improve your speaking and writing skills.
Read, listen and learn how to use these verbs correctly in English.
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Harry
22 Phrasal Verbs for Business English
Hi there, this is Harry and welcome back to my English learning podcast Speak Better English with Harry where I try to help you improve your spoken English, your grammar or even business English.
In the next two podcast episodes, we’re going to focus on phrasal verbs for business English.
Of course, like all phrasal verbs they have a couple of meanings and so many of them you can use not only in business English.
to aim something at somebody
Meaning: to target the particular segment of the population
Example:
The new perfume was aimed at women between ages 30 and 50.
A new fitness magazine is aimed at men who spend the time in gyms admiring their bodies.
to break into something
Meaning: to start to have success in something
Example:
The famous fizzy drink company wants to break into the Chinese market.
to bring in somebody/something
Meaning: to go out there and get it, to sell, sell and sell again
Example:
We need you to bring in new clients and this is why we’ve hired you.
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to bring out something
Meaning: to put on the market
Example:
A new gaming console will be brought out just before Christmas.
to deal in something
Meaning: to buy and sell particular goods as a business
Example:
He made his fortune dealing in fake paintings.
to firm up something
Meaning: to make your appointments or arrangements or details or indeed prices more definite, to make sure everything is organised, everything is right
Example:
Let’s firm up a meeting next week.
to sign somebody up
Meaning: to get someone to join the team, company, club, etc
Example:
Football teams sign up new players on a regular basis.
to turn out something
Meaning: to produce
Example:
The factory turns out electric cars on a regular basis now.
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to turn over
Meaning: to generate a certain amount of money in a particular period of time (monthly, quarterly, yearly)
Example:
We turned over six million euros in the first six months of this financial year.
Now, remember we’re using it here as a phrasal verb.
You can also use it as a noun – turnover. For example, you ask somebody:
What is your turnover?
So be very careful you don’t make the confusion and the mistake between the noun and the verb.
22 Phrasal Verbs for Business English
to build on
Meaning: to improve or add something to something that is already successful
Example:
Our overseas marketing campaign was a great success, it has brought many new leads so we hope to build on that.
to come out
Meaning: to finish
Example:
The economy has finally come out of recession by growing 0.3% in the second quarter of the year.
Meaning: to become known
Example:
We have sat down, we have discussed all of the problems and here’s a list of the issues that came out of those meetings.
to cut down
Meaning: to reduce
Example:
In the current climate, lots of companies are cutting down staff numbers.
To hand over something
Meaning: to give or to allow somebody to take control of something
Example:
We need to hand over the accounts to the auditors by the end of this week.
to keep down
Meaning: to cause to remain at a lower level
Example:
The airline industry is trying to keep down prices so that people may be encouraged to book flights.
22 Phrasal Verbs for Business English
to look into
Meaning: to investigate, to do some research
Example:
Let’s get the marketing department to look into the opportunities of selling our products online.
to pull out
Meaning: to leave a market
Example:
We’re going to pull out of the market because the tariffs that they have introduced are very stringent.
to send off
Meaning: to post something to someone
Example:
We’ll send off the final proofs of the new marketing material to the publishing company.
to send out
Meaning: to send something to a large group of people
Example:
We’ve got a problem, we don’t have enough people. We’ll have to send out an invitation to the recruitment firms to try and get us some additional staff.
to start up
Meaning: to begin
Example:
We will start up the new production line as soon as we get government approval.
And again we can use it as a noun – startup. Just be very careful when you use it. A startup is a new business.
It’s a startup company – it’s a new business.
22 Phrasal Verbs for Business English
To take over
Meaning: take control of a government, country or company
Example:
The Chief Finance Officer is going to take over as CEO for an interim period whilst the new CEO is appointed.
To try out
Meaning: to see if something will work
Example:
We’re going to try out the product in a short launch in a specific area so we can monitor it and manage it.
To turn around
Meaning: to improve a bad situation or a failing business
Example:
A good plan is needed in order to turn the company around.
So they’re the phrasal verbs for business. Let me give them to you one more time:
- to aim something at somebody
- to break into something
- to bring in somebody/something
- to bring out something or to bring something out
- to deal in something
- to firm up something or to firm something up
- to sign up somebody or to sign somebody up
- to turn out
- to turn over
- to build on
- to come out
- to cut down
- to hand over something
- to keep down
- to look into
- to pull out
- to send off
- to send out
- to start up
- to take over
- to try out
- to turn around
As always I’m happy that you can listen to my English learning podcast. I hope you enjoy it, hope you get to practice these phrasal verbs related to business.
If you want to contact me then you can do so on www.englishlessonviaskype.com
And, of course, if you have any criticisms or any helpful suggestions, anything you want to include please let me know. Join me again soon.
More information
For more information on English grammar rules, English collocations and English idioms, check out the links below:
English collocation connected with WORK
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