In today’s fast-paced workplace, understanding common phrasal verbs can greatly enhance your communication skills. Here are 20 essential phrasal verbs related to work, each explained succinctly with an example to help you master professional English.
1. Sign off
Meaning: Approve formally
Example: She signed off the project yesterday.
2. Team up
Meaning: Collaborate with others
Example: Let’s team up for this presentation.
3. Lay off
Meaning: Dismiss from employment
Example: The company laid off fifty workers.
4. Take on
Meaning: Accept responsibility
Example: He took on the challenging role.
5. Pull together
Meaning: Collaborate, unite effort
Example: We must pull together to meet the deadline.
6. Work out
Meaning: Find a solution
Example: They worked out the issue overnight.
7. Put off
Meaning: Postpone, delay
Example: We put off the meeting until tomorrow.
8. Run by
Meaning: Present for consideration
Example: I’ll run this idea by my boss.
9. Set up
Meaning: Establish, arrange
Example: She set up a new branch office.
10. Go over
Meaning: Review or check
Example: Let’s go over the contract again.
11. Call off
Meaning: Cancel something
Example: They called off the event due to rain.
12. Draw up
Meaning: Prepare in writing
Example: He drew up a comprehensive report.
13. Fill in
Meaning: Substitute or provide information
Example: Could you fill in while I’m away?
14. Bring up
Meaning: Mention or introduce a topic
Example: She brought up a good point during the meeting.
15. Look into
Meaning: Investigate
Example: We will look into this matter further.
16. Kick off
Meaning: Start, initiate
Example: The project kicks off next Monday.
17. Step down
Meaning: Resign from a position
Example: He stepped down as CEO last year.
18. Turn down
Meaning: Reject an offer
Example: She turned down the job offer.
19. Carry out
Meaning: Execute a task
Example: They carried out the plan smoothly.
20. Hand over
Meaning: Transfer responsibility
Example: He handed over the files before leaving.
