100 Business English Phrases for Work Meetings: Meanings Explained with Sentence Examples
"This video will explore 100 essential business English phrases that are perfect for beginners in work meetings. These phrases are designed to help you communicate more effectively and confidently in a professional setting. Whether you're preparing for a meeting, writing emails, or engaging in everyday workplace conversations, mastering these phrases will give you the tools you need to sound more polished and professional. Let's dive in and enhance your business communication skills together."
Here are 100 Business English phrases designed for beginners that are helpful in work meetings, both for writing and speaking:
1. "Let's touch base."
Meaning: Let's have a brief meeting or conversation.
Example: "Let’s touch base next week to discuss the project updates." This means let's meet or talk next week to update each other on the project's progress.
2. "Moving forward."
Meaning: To proceed or continue with something.
Example: "Moving forward, we will need weekly reports." This means from now on, weekly reports are required.
3. "On the same page."
Meaning: Agreeing with someone or understanding something in the same way.
Example: "It's important that we're all on the same page before the presentation." This means everyone should have the same understanding or agreement before the presentation starts.
4. "Circle back."
Meaning: To revisit or return to a topic later.
Example: "We'll circle back to this issue at the end of the meeting." This means we will discuss this issue again later in the meeting.
5. "Think outside the box."
Meaning: To think creatively, beyond the usual ways of thinking.
Example: "We need to think outside the box to solve this problem." This means we need creative solutions that are not the usual approaches.
6. "Bring to the table."
Meaning: To offer or provide something (like skills, ideas).
Example: "What can you bring to the table for this project?" This means what skills or ideas can you contribute to this project.
7. "Hit the ground running."
Meaning: To start something with great enthusiasm and energy.
Example: "We need to hit the ground running as soon as the project is approved." This means we need to start the project quickly and efficiently once it's approved.
8. "Back to the drawing board."
Meaning: To start over; to go back to the planning stage because previous attempts failed.
Example: "It didn't work as planned, so it's back to the drawing board." This means the plan failed, and we need to start planning again from the beginning.
9. "Keep me in the loop."
Meaning: Keep me informed about something.
Example: "Please keep me in the loop about any updates." This means please inform me about any new developments.
10. "Leverage our assets."
Meaning: To use the resources or advantages we have to achieve more.
Example: "We should leverage our assets to gain a better market position." This means we should use our resources effectively to improve our standing in the market.
11. "Out of scope."
Meaning: Something that is beyond the current project or plan's limits.
Example: "This request is out of scope for our current team’s objectives." This means the request is beyond what our team currently plans to do.
12. "Take the lead."
Meaning: To assume responsibility for a task.
Example: "Can you take the lead on this new initiative?" This means can you be in charge of this new project.
13. "Run it by me."
Meaning: To inform or show someone something for approval or feedback.
Example: "Run it by me before you make the final decision." This means show it to me for my approval or opinion before deciding.
14. "Drill down into."
Meaning: To look at something in detail.
Example: "We need to drill down into these numbers to understand the issue." This means we need to examine these figures closely to understand the problem.
15. "Get the ball rolling."
Meaning: To start something.
Example: "Let's get the ball rolling with the project planning." This means let's start planning the project.