Business Phrasal Verbs

Question 1

Make sure data is BACKED ____ regularly

Answer 1

BACKED UP
(make a second copy)

Question 2

Our division ACCOUNTs ______ 30% of the business.

Answer 2

ACCOUNTs FOR
(is responsible for, forms)

Question 3

The company has BRANCHed _______ into new lines of business,

Answer 3

BRANCH OUT
(offer new services, expand your activity)

Question 4

Let’s BREAK ____ the results into different categories

Answer 4

BREAK DOWN
(divide into smaller pieces)

Question 5

The growth is starting to LEVEL ______

Answer 5

LEVEL OFF
(become steady, level out)

Question 6

I’m FILLING ___ FOR John while he’s sick

Answer 6

FILL IN FOR sb
(cover for sb)

Question 7

They decided to BREAK ___ the company into several groups

Answer 7

BREAK UP
(divide)

Question 8

Levels of exports are still HOLDing _____ (staying strong)

Answer 8

HOLD UP
(endure, stay strong)

Question 9

We forgot to FACTOR ____ the labour costs

Answer 9

FACTOR IN
(include in the calculation)

Question 10

This model is CATHing _____ among Chinese consumers (becoming popular)

Answer 10

CATCH ON
(become popular)

Question 11

The company LAID _____ 100 workers

Answer 11

LAY OFF
(dismiss)
The company LAID OFF 100 workers

Question 12

DISPOSE ____ hazardous materials properly

Answer 12

DISPOSE OF
(get rid of)

Question 13

Our plans FELL _______ (failed)

Answer 13

FALL THROUGH
(fail)

Question 14

CARRY _____ some research

Answer 14

CARRY OUT
(perform a task)

Question 15

The firm will GO _____ unless business improves (become bankrupt)

Answer 15

GO UNDER
(become bankrupt)

Question 16

The company has to CLEAN _____ its image

Answer 16

CLEAN UP
(make clean, restore order)

Question 17

Can you DRAW ___ the new contract?

Answer 17

DRAW UP
(prepare a document)

Question 18

The company has CLOSED ______

Answer 18

CLOSE DOWN
(cease activity)

Question 19

I’ll COPY you ____ (on the email)

Answer 19

COPY sb IN
(send sb a copy of an email)

Question 20

We must prevent employees from BURNing ____

Answer 20

BURN OUT
(become exhausted through overwork)

Question 21

We must CUT ____ on technology spending

Answer 21

CUT BACK
(reduce, especially expenditure)

Question 22

I’ll PENCIL the date _____

Answer 22

PENCIL sth IN
(tentatively make an arrangement)
E.g. Let’s pencil in a meeting for next Tuesday, but we can confirm the time later

Question 23

PUT _____ the meeting (postpone)

Answer 23

PUT OFF
(postpone)

Question 24

BRING the meeting ________ (move to an earlier date)

Answer 24

BRING sth FORWARD
(move to an earlier date)

Question 25

BRING ___ a subject

Answer 25

BRING UP a subject (raise a topic)

Question 26

It's important to BUILD _____ a good relationship with the customer

Answer 26

BUILD sth UP (create or develop sth)

Question 27

Let's KICK ____ this meeting..

Answer 27

KICK OFF (begin)

Question 28

It takes a while to SETTLE ____ after a move

Answer 28

SETTLE IN (adapt, get used to a new situation)

Question 29

We need to GEAR ____ FOR the upcoming presentation

Answer 29

GEAR UP FOR (prepare for sth)

Question 30

I have many emails to CATCH ____ ON.

Answer 30

CATCH UP on sth (bring yourself up to date with sth)

Question 31

We mustn't FALL ________ on the project

Answer 31

FALL BEHIND (not keep pace with sth)

Question 32

This task is EATing _____ my workday.

Answer 32

EAT UP (using a significant amount of )

Question 33

Can I CALL you _____ in half an hour? (make a follow-up call)

Answer 33

CALL BACK

Question 34

TAKE____ more employees

Answer 34

TAKE ON (to employ)