Speak like a native in the office!

🔹 Intro: Do You “Follow Up” or Just… Follow?

“Native speakers use phrasal verbs every 1–2 minutes in conversation.”

(Source: Cambridge Dictionary)

That’s a lot. And if you’re working in an international office or dealing with clients in English, you need to understand them—and even better, use them.

Phrasal verbs are often casual, quick, and tricky. “Look into” doesn’t mean looking into something with your eyes—it means investigating. “Put off” has nothing to do with placing anything somewhere—it means postponing.

This week, you’ll get 10 essential phrasal verbs used constantly in business: in emails, meetings, and everyday office talk. Master these, and you’ll instantly sound more natural and confident.

Let’s jump in!

🧰 The Top 10 Phrasal Verb Toolkit for Office Life

1. Follow up (on something)

Meaning: Check again, remind, or continue the conversation.

Example: “Just following up on my last email—do you have any updates?”

Pro Tip: Use it in emails to stay professional and proactive.

2. Look into (something)

Meaning: Investigate or research.

Example: “We’re looking into the client’s complaint now and will respond shortly.”

Usage Note: More formal than “check,” but still friendly.

3. Put off (something)

Meaning: Postpone or delay.

Example: “Can we put off the meeting until next week?”

Cultural Tip: Sounds more casual—use “reschedule” in more formal settings.

4. Bring up (a topic)

Meaning: Mention or introduce a topic.

Example: “He brought up the issue of remote work during the call.”

Pro Tip: Use this when transitioning to a sensitive or new topic.

5. Take on (a task/responsibility)

Meaning: Accept or agree to do something.

Example: “I can take on the presentation if no one else is available.”

Pro Tip: Great for sounding proactive and helpful in meetings.

6. Turn down (an offer/request)

Meaning: Politely refuse.

Example: “They turned down our proposal due to budget issues.”

Tone Tip: More natural than saying “reject,” which can sound too strong.

7. Catch up (with someone or on something)

Meaning: Get up to date after a delay.

Example: “Let’s catch up later this week.” / “I need to catch up on my emails.”

Pro Tip: Very common in both spoken and written English.

8. Run by (someone)

Meaning: Show or check something with someone before making a decision.

Example: “Let me run this idea by the team before we move forward.”

Cultural Tip: A polite way to involve others and get approval.

9. Set up (a meeting/system)

Meaning: Organise or arrange.

Example: “I’ll set up a Zoom call for Monday.”

Pro Tip: Use in emails to sound efficient and action-oriented.

10. Get back to (someone)

Meaning: Respond later.

Example: “I’ll get back to you by the end of the day.”

Tone Tip: Essential for polite delays—better than silence or “I don’t know.”

🟣 Conclusion: Upgrade Your Office English—One Phrase at a Time

You don’t need to learn all 10 today.

✅ This week, try to use 2 or 3 of these phrases in emails or meetings.

✅ Pay attention when native speakers use them—you’ll hear them more than you think.

Micro Quiz:

Which sentence is more natural in business English?

A) “Can you explain me the idea?”

B) “Can you run the idea by me?”

👉 Comment below with your answer—or tell me your favourite phrasal verb from this list!