25 Useful Phrasal Verbs for Business with Sample Sentences

1. Deal with

Type: Inseparable, transitive

Meaning: To handle, work on

Example: Our new department head will deal with the training of new staff members.

2. Take over

Type: Separable, intransitive

Meaning: To get control or responsibility for something

Example: Tom will take over the sales department and become its new manager.

3. Look into

Type: Inseparable, transitive

Meaning: To investigate, learn more about

Example: We are now looking into new software to use in our training.

4. Look up to

Type: Inseparable, transitive

Meaning: To respect

Example: Many of our co-workers look up to Jill, and she is well-liked by her customers as well.

5. Look for

Type: Inseparable, transitive

Meaning: To search

Example: They are looking for a candidate who can speak both Chinese and Portuguese.

6. Look through

Type: Inseparable, transitive

Meaning: To search many things

Example: They had to look through all of last month’s receipts to find the one they wanted.
7. Catch on

Type: Inseparable, intransitive

Meaning: To finally understand, to understand something that other people already understand

Example: Jim learns quickly, therefore he caught on after trying only two times.

8. Get ahead

Type: Inseparable, intransitive

Meaning: To move up in position, improve your career

Example: My boss told me that if I wanted to get ahead, I would need to work a little harder.

9. Drop in

Type: Inseparable, intransitive

Meaning: To make an unexpected visit

Example: I am always nervous when our CEO drops in.

10. Drop off (1)

Type: Inseparable, intransitive

Meaning: A sharp decrease

Example: At the end of summer there was a drop off in sales of bottled water.

11. Drop off (2)

Type: Separable, transitive

Meaning: To deliver

Example: The new receptionist dropped our plans off on her way home.

12. Fill in (1)

Type: Separable, transitive

Meaning: To write or type an item on a form

Example: You can’t go on to page 2 until you fill in every answer on page 1.

13. Fill in (2)

Type: Inseparable, intransitive

Meaning: To do a job or hold a position temporarily

Example: When the president is away, the vice president will fill in.

14. Bring up

Type: Separable, transitive

Meaning: To say or introduce a topic or issue

Example: Whenever we have a meeting, our manager brings up the fact that we are improving every
month.

15. Break down

Type: Separable, transitive

Meaning: To explain something or divide something into parts

Example: The new security system seemed confusing until Mary broke it down into five easy steps.

16. Hold up

Type: Separable, transitive

Meaning: To cause a delay

Example: The bad weather is holding progress up on the new bridge.

17. Turn down

Type: Separable, transitive

Meaning: To handle, work on

Example: Larry turned down a job at another company so that he could continue his work here.

18. Think through

Type: Separable, transitive

Meaning: To consider carefully and thoroughly

Example: The marketing team did not think it through carefully before giving the product such a silly
name.

19. Spell out

Type: Separable, transitive

Meaning: To say something in a simple way

Example: Don misunderstood the question so we had to spell it out for him.

20. Point out

Type: Separable, transitive

Meaning: To indicate or show something

Example: Everyone at the meeting was surprised when she pointed out the accounting department’s
mistake.

21. Cut down

Type: Separable, transitive

Meaning: To reduce, make something less

Example: We will be cutting down the electricity bill by installing solar panels.

22. Cut out

Type: Separable, transitive

Meaning: To completely remove or erase

Example: Last year we cut out spending on TV commercials in order to increase spending on radio
commercials.

23. Call off

Type: Separable, transitive

Meaning: To cancel

Example: The department meeting was called off this week so please use your time wisely.

24. Chip in

Type: Inseparable, intransitive

Meaning: To give some help

Example: If everyone chips in, we will be able to finish the job by lunch time.

25. Put off

Type: Separable, transitive

Meaning: To postpone, delay

Example: The construction on the new building was put off because of all the rain this summer.

The visit of Chinese delegation was put off more than 12 hours because of strong wind and rain that
changed a flight schedule. Fortunately we dealt with our partner and extended our rent contract of
Congress hall for one day more. Our manager who took over that negotiation chipped in the whole
company get away clean. We didn’t need to call off that important meeting. This situation pointed out
how we should prepare all our deals. The reason why this meeting was too urgent was the necessity of
bringing up the new software on the Chinese market in the first place.

All parents should chip in for the class party.