Business English Phrasal Verbs

Question 1

to ask around

Answer 1

to ask many people the same question

Example: I need a good real estate agent. Could you ask around and see if anyone knows one?

Question 2

to back * up

Answer 2

to support

Thanks for backing me up in the meeting.

Question 3

to call * back

Answer 3

to return a phone call

We have a bad connection. I’ll call you back in a few minutes.

Question 4

to call * off

Answer 4

to cancel

Management is going to call the meeting off because so many people are out sick today.

Question 5

to check in

Answer 5

to arrive and register at a hotel or airport

We checked in around 5 p.m. and then got something to eat.

Question 6

to check in (with someone)

Answer 6

to talk with someone to ensure things are going okay

As a manager, I feel it’s important to check in with everyone on my team at least once a day.

Question 7

to check out

Answer 7

to leave a hotel

We checked out a few hours late and had to pay an extra fee.

Question 8

to check * out

Answer 8

to look at carefully, investigate

I’m not sure why the copier isn’t working. I’ll check it out.

Question 9

to chip/pitch in

Answer 9

to help, to lend a hand

We should be able to finish quickly if everyone pitches in.

Question 10

to come across

Answer 10

to find unexpectedly

I was reading last night and I came across a couple of phrasal verbs I had never seen before.

Question 11

to count on

Answer 11

to rely on

We have a great team. I can count on everyone to do their best.

Question 12

to cut back on

Answer 12

to consume less

It’s a tough economy. We’re trying to cut back on unnecessary expenses.

Question 13

to cut in

Answer 13

to interrupt

Can I cut in and say something, please?

Question 14

to do * over

Answer 14

to do again

I can’t believe I closed the document without saving. Now I’m going to have to do the whole thing over.

Question 15

to do away with

Answer 15

to discard; to put an end to

They did away with bonuses last year because their profits were so low.

Question 16

to drop * off

Answer 16

to take someone/something somewhere and leave them/it there

My car was in the shop, so Kevin dropped me off at my house.

Question 17

to drop/stop by

Answer 17

to come without an appointment; to visit briefly

John dropped by my office to talk about last month’s sales figures.

Question 18

to end up

Answer 18

to eventually reach, do, or decide

At first I thought I wanted to be an accountant. Then, I studied finance. I ended up getting my degree in management, though.

Question 19

to figure * out

Answer 19

to understand; to find the answer

I can’t figure out why the printer isn’t working. I’ve tried everything, and it still won’t work.

Question 20

to fill * out

Answer 20

to write information in blanks

Please fill out these forms and bring them on your first day of work.

Question 21

to find out

Answer 21

to gain knowledge about something

I just found out how to forward my email from one account to another.

Question 22

to get * back

Answer 22

to receive something that you had before

It’s a secure area, so you have to leave your cell phone with the guard. You’ll get it back when you exit the building.

Question 23

to get back at

Answer 23

to retaliate; to take revenge on someone

He might get back at you for asking him so many tough questions during his presentation.

Question 24

to get in

Answer 24

1. to enter
2. to arrive
3. Get in the car. I’ll give you a ride.
4. I worked late last night and didn’t get in until after 9 p.m.

Question 25

to get over

Answer 25

to recover

I was upset that I didn’t get the promotion, but I got over it after a while.

Question 26

to get together

Answer 26

to gather, assemble

This weekend I’m going to get together with some friends from college.

Question 27

to get up

Answer 27

1. to get out of bed
2. to stand
3. I get up late on the weekends because I have to get up really early during the week.
4. He got up and walked to the podium to give his speech.

Question 28

to give in

Answer 28

to reluctantly stop fighting or arguing

Management didn’t want to give in to the union’s demands, but in the end they had no choice.

Question 29

to give * up

Answer 29

to quit a habit or quit doing a certain activity

I gave up checking Facebook at work. I’m trying to be more productive.

Question 30

to give up

Answer 30

to stop trying

Just because we failed the first time doesn’t mean we should give up. We just need a new approach.

Question 31

to go after

Answer 31

1. to follow someone
2. to try to achieve something
3. Pam will give her talk first, and Scott will go after her.
4. If we got their business, they would be our biggest client. I’m really going to go after the account.

Question 32

to go against

Answer 32

to compete; oppose

We’re going against three or four other contractors. Be sure to bid low.

Question 33

to go over

Answer 33

to review

I want to go over last month’s numbers with you.

Question 34

to hand * in

Answer 34

to submit (a report, a paper, etc)

I forgot to hand in my expense reports. Now I won’t get reimbursed until next month.

Question 35

to hand * out

Answer 35

to distribute the same thing to a group of people

I’ll start explaining the changes while Jason hands out a copy of the new policy.

Question 36

to hang/hold on

Answer 36

to wait for a short time (informal)

Could you hang on for a second? I’ll be right there.

Question 37

to keep * up

Answer 37

to continue doing something

You’re doing a fantastic job. Keep it up!

Question 38

to let * down

Answer 38

to disappoint; to not help or support

Our suppliers promised us we’d have the shipment yesterday. We still haven’t received our order. They really let us down.

Question 39

to let * in

Answer 39

to allow to enter

I forgot my badge again. Hopefully someone else is in the office and can let me in.

Question 40

to look * over

Answer 40

to check; examine

Could you look over this report to make sure there are no mistakes?

Question 41

to look forward to

Answer 41

to be excited about something in the future

I’m looking forward to the three-day weekend.

Question 42

to look into

Answer 42

to investigate

We’re looking into ways to cut costs.

Question 43

to look out for

Answer 43

to be careful, vigilant, and take notice

You must always look out for new business opportunities.

Question 44

to look up to

Answer 44

to have a lot of respect for someone

I look up to Madeline. She has been with the company for many years and is extremely knowledgeable.

Question 45

to make * up

Answer 45

1. to invent (a story, lie, excuse, reason, etc.)
2. to compensate for something
3. I don’t believe their story. I think they made it up.
4. I didn’t get anything accomplished yesterday. I’m going to have to work extra hard today to make up for it.

Question 46

to make up

Answer 46

to resolve an argument or quarrel

Are they still fighting about that? I thought they had made up a while ago?

Question 47

to mix * up

Answer 47

to confuse two or more things

I always mix their names up. Which one is Bob, and which one is Brad?

Question 48

to not care for

Answer 48

to not like (formal)

I don’t care for team building activities. I think they are a waste of time.

Question 49

to pass * out

Answer 49

to give the same thing to many people

Carly is passing out a schedule of today’s events.

Question 50

to pass * up

Answer 50

to decline (usually something good)

Don’t pass up on this great opportunity. Place your order today.

Question 51

to put * off

Answer 51

to postpone

I haven’t done my taxes yet. I’ve been putting it off for a long time.

Question 52

to put * together

Answer 52

to assemble

How long will it take to put together a proposal?

Question 53

to run into

Answer 53

to encounter someone unexpectedly

I ran into Stacey from Accounting in the supermarket yesterday.

Question 54

to send * back

Answer 54

to return

The product was defective. We’re sending it back

Question 55

to set * up

Answer 55

to arrange; organize

I’ll set up the conference call and send you the invite.

Question 56

to shop around

Answer 56

to compare prices

He is shopping around to find the best price for a car.

Question 57

to sort * out

Answer 57

to organize or resolve a problem

There was some confusion with the schedule. No one is sure who is on call this weekend. We’re calling a meeting to sort it out.

Question 58

to take * back

Answer 58

1. to return an item
2. to retract a statement
3. This product isn’t what I expected. I’m going to take it back to the store.
4. I didn’t mean it. I take it back.

Question 59

to think * over

Answer 59

to consider

Honestly, I don’t know what I’m going to do. The job offer is great, but I’m not sure I want to leave my current position. I’ll have to think it over.

Question 60

to try * out

Answer 60

to test or use something experimentally

We’re going to try it out for a few weeks and let you know what we think. If we like it, we’ll place an order.

Question 61

to turn * down

Answer 61

1. to decrease the volume or strength of something (volume, heat, etc.)
2. to reject an offer
3. Could you turn your music down so I can take this call?
4. They turned down our proposal.

Question 62

to use * up

Answer 62

to finish the supply

I can’t believe it’s only May and I’ve already used up all my sick days.