Phrasal Verbs are combinations of verbs and prepositions or participles that create a meaning that is different from the main verb’s definition. Here is a list of common Phrasal Verbs that can be used in the workplace.
Account for
To explain or justify something.
Can you account for the missing inventory?
Add up
To make sense or be logical.
The figures don’t add up, let’s double-check them.
Be off by
To be incorrect by a certain amount.
The sales forecast was off by $5,000 this quarter.
Boil down to
To be essentially about.
The decision boils down to budget constraints.
Border on
To be close to or almost at a certain level.
His dedication to the project borders on obsession.
Break down into
Divide into smaller parts.
We broke the project down into smaller parts.
Bring up
To mention or reference.
This is an issue we will need to bring up in the next board meeting.
Buy into
To believe in or support an idea.
The team quickly bought into the new marketing strategy.
Call for
To require or demand something.
This project calls for advanced coding skills.
Carry on with
To Continue doing something
Let’s carry on with the lesson despite the interruption.
Cancel out
To neutralize or make ineffective.
The gains were canceled out by unexpected losses.
Check in on
To visit or monitor to ensure something or someone is doing well.
The manager checked in on the remote team to see if they needed support.
Chip in
To contribute.
Everyone chipped in to buy a gift for the boss.
Come up with
To think of or produce an idea or solution.
Nicole came up with a brilliant design for the campaign.
Cut back on
To reduce.
We cut back on travel expenses.
Cut down on
To reduce the amount of something.
We need tocut down on unnecessary expenses.
Do away with
To eliminate or get rid of something.
The company decided to do away with annual performance reviews.
Do with
To manage or make use of something.
We could do with more resources for this project.
Do without
To manage without having something.
We’ll have to do without extra staff this month.
Draw on
To use a talent or skill as a resource.
I always draw on my time as a door-to-door salesman when facing difficult negotiations.
Draw up
To prepare an official document, usually a contract or public announcement.
We will draw up the contract and send it by the end of the week.
Drop out of
To withdraw or leave before completion
The Investors dropped out of the funding round at the last minute.
End up
To reach or conclude at a particular place or state without previous planning.
We ended up staying late to finish the report.
Enter into
To start or engage in something.
The company entered into a new partnership.
Figure out
To understand or solve something.
We need to figure out why the software keeps crashing.
Fall through
To fail to happen as planned or hoped for.
When our suppliers fell through, we had to fall back on a substitute product.
Fall back on
To use as a back up resource or strategy
When our suppliers fell through, we had to fall back on a substitute product.
Fill in
To complete or provide missing information.
Please fill in the client’s contact details.
Fill in for
To substitute for someone.
I’ll fill in for Mark while he’s on vacation.
Find out
To discover or learn information.
I need to find out who approved this order.
Follow up on
To revisit the progress or updates of something already started.
I will follow up on the email we sent to the client to see if they understood.
Get along
To be friendly or harmonious relationship.
I always try to get along with my clients. It’s good for business.
Get around to
To finally do something low on list of priorities.
I finally got around to cleaning my inbox.
Get stuck
To be unable to proceed.
I got stuck on the final report section.
Go over
To review or examine something.
Let’s go over the presentation slides one more time.
Hold off on
To delay or postpone.
Let’s hold off on hiring until next quarter.
Hold out for
To wait for a better option
I turned down the job offer because I’m holding out for my top pick.
Iron out
To resolve issues.
Let’s iron out the details before the launch.
Jot down
To write quickly.
I jotted down key points during the meeting.
Keep up with
To stay at the same level or pace as others.
It’s hard to keep up with all the new software updates.
Keep track of
To monitor or follow.
I’ll keep track of the expenses.
Look out for
To watch for or protect against.
Look out for phishing emails.
Make sense
To be logical.
This strategy makes sense for our market.
Make sure
To confirm.
Please make sure the reports are accurate.
Make up for
To compensate for something
The bonuses will make up for the long hours the team worked.
Narrow down
To reduce options to a few choices.
We narrowed down the candidates to three.
Pay off
To yield positive results.
The new strategy paid off with higher sales.
Point out
To highlight or indicate.
She pointed out a mistake in the contract.
Put up with
To tolerate or endure something.
We have to put up with tight deadlines this month.
Ramp up
To increase or intensify.
We need to ramp up production for the holidays.
Rule out
To eliminate as an option.
We can rule out that vendor for the contract.
Run into
To encounter unexpectedly.
I ran into the CEO at the conference.
Run out of
To exhaust a supply.
We ran out of paper for the printer.
Run over
To extend beyond the scheduled time.
The meeting ran over by 30 minutes.
Run by
To explain or show something to someone.
Can I run this idea by you later?
Set up
To arrange or establish.
I’ll set up a meeting with the client.
Sign off on
To approve officially.
The manager signed off on the budget proposal.
Single out
To choose or identify specifically.
The manager singled out John for his great work.
Sort out
To organize or resolve.
We need to sort out the client’s complaints.
Spread out
To distribute over an area.
The team spread out across the venue.
Stand out
To be noticeable.
Her presentation really stood out.
Take off
To become successful or leave quickly.
The sales campaign really took off last month.
Take out
To remove or withdraw.
We need to take out outdated policies.
Talk over
To resolve a dispute or conflict.
We talked it over and now we are on the same page again.
Talk out of
To persuade someone not to do something
We talked the money manager out of the risky investment.
Turn down
To refuse an offer or invitation.
I’m afraid I must turn down this invitation because I have a previous commitment.
Turn into
To result or become.
The audience’s confusion quickly turned into excitement once they realized what was happening.
Work out
To function as expected or hoped for.
Everything will work out fine as long as we stick to the plan.
