This lesson covers 50 C2 phrasal verbs on Business. At Proficiency you must distinguish particles that change meaning subtly and match register across formal and informal contexts. Complete the runner, then use the glossary below to consolidate each verb. Detailed explanations appear in Review mode once you finish the set.
write up
to rewrite in full using a computer
The assistant was asked to quickly _____ the handwritten notes from the meeting.
come out with
to say something suddenly, often something surprising or unexpected
During the Q&A the CEO unexpectedly _____ a completely new strategy.
root out
to search and find something or someone that is difficult to find
The new management team is determined to _____ any remaining inefficiencies.
give away
to let someone know something that should be kept secret, often by mistake
The press release accidentally _____ the location of the new facility.
put together
to prepare, or organise something
The team worked late into the night to _____ the final presentation for the investors.
fly around
if rumours fly around, they are made in a way which makes people excited
Wild rumours about the merger began to _____ throughout the entire company.
take down
to write something, especially something that someone says
Could you please _____ the exact specifications of the new equipment for the order form?
roll up
to arrive at a particular place or event, usually late
The delegation finally _____ just minutes before the opening ceremony began.
cut off
to stop the supply of something such as electricity, gas or water
The utility company threatened to _____ the electricity supply _____ if the bill remained unpaid.
catch on
to understand something, especially after a long time
It took the board several minutes to fully _____ the implications of the new regulation.
prop up
to make something stay in a particular position by putting something underneath or against it
The government decided to _____ the struggling biotech sector with emergency funding.
step aside
to leave a job or position, especially so that someone else can do it
The senior partner finally agreed to _____ to allow a younger colleague to take over.
nail down
to make a decision about all the details of something
We still need to _____ the exact specifications before production can begin.
fall off
if the amount, rate, or quality of something falls off, it becomes smaller or lower
Interest in the new technology has started to _____ after the initial hype died down.
keep it up
to continue to do something, especially to work hard or to do good work
The team is doing excellent work — if they can _____ they will definitely meet the deadline.
grasp at
to quickly use or accept an opportunity to do or have something, especially because you are unhappy with the present situation
The company is _____ any opportunity to recover lost market share.
toss for
to decide which person or team can do something or have something by throwing a coin in the air and guessing which side of the coin will be on top when it lands
The two team leaders decided to _____ the right to present first.
walk out
to stop working because of a disagreement with your employer
The entire department threatened to _____ if their demands were not met immediately.
run around after
to do a lot of things for someone else, especially when they should be able to do more for themselves
The new manager seemed to expect everyone to _____ him constantly.
count on
to expect something to happen, and make plans which depend on this thing happening
We can always _____ the senior partner to provide calm leadership during a crisis.
storm out
to leave a place in an angry way
The frustrated researcher suddenly _____ of the meeting when his proposal was rejected.
get off ’s back
to stop nagging someone
The manager promised to _____ the team's _____ now that the project was on track.
ride on
if something important [e.g. reputation, money] rides on something else, it depends on it
The future of the entire company now _____ the success of this single clinical trial.
go over
to think about something that has happened or something that was said
Let's quickly _____ the main points of the proposal one more time.
do without
to manage without something or someone
During the budget cuts the department had to learn to _____ several expensive pieces of equipment.
go forward
if someone’s name goes forward, it is suggested that that person should compete for an elected position or a job
Her name has been put _____ for the position of chief scientific officer.
knock down
to reduce a price, or to persuade someone to reduce the price of something that they are selling
The supplier agreed to _____ the price of the equipment by 15 percent.
bring up
to start to talk about something
During the meeting I would like to _____ the issue of cybersecurity in remote work.
face up
to sth to accept that a difficult or unpleasant situation exists
The board must finally _____ the reality of declining market share.
side against
to oppose a person or group in an argument
Several committee members decided to _____ the controversial new proposal.
take over
to get control of a company by buying most of its shares (= the equal parts into which the ownership of the company is divided)
The multinational corporation plans to _____ its smaller competitor to expand market share.
be bursting with
to be very full with something
The conference hall was _____ eager delegates from over 40 countries.
drone on
to talk for a long time in a very boring way
The uninspiring speaker continued to _____ about budget figures for over an hour.
weigh up
to thinking about something carefully, comparing
The board needs to carefully _____ the risks and benefits before making a final decision.
drop out
to not do something that you were going to do, or to stop doing something
Several high-profile sponsors decided to _____ of the controversial international conference.
sell up
to sell your house or business in order to go somewhere else or do something else
The small family business finally decided to _____ and retire after 40 years.
interest in
to try to persuade someone that they want something
The new discovery has begun to _____ several major pharmaceutical companies.
keep ahead
to continue to be more advanced and successful than other people, or to make sure that someone is more advanced or successful than other people
The company must constantly innovate to _____ its competitors in the AI sector.
sort out
to arrange or organise things which are untidy
The new intern was asked to _____ the chaotic filing system in the records room.
resign yourself
to sth to accept that something we do not want to happen will happen
The team finally had to _____ the fact that the grant would not be renewed.
think up
to create an idea or plan by using your imagination and intelligence
The creative team managed to quickly _____ an entirely new marketing strategy.
play off against
to encourage one person or group to compete against or argue with another, hoping that you can get some advantage from this situation
The company tried to _____ the two suppliers against each other to get a better price.
go ahead
to someone to give them permission to start to do something
The chairman said _____ with your presentation.
have off
to spend time away from work
The entire team is planning to _____ the week after the conference.
come into one’s own
to be very successful
During the pandemic the small biotech firm really _____ as a global leader in vaccine development.
lead on
to make someone do something bad by encouraging them or annoying them until they do it
The sales team tried to _____ the client into signing the contract.
sprout up
if a large number of things sprout up, they suddenly appear or begin to exist
Small biotech startups began to _____ in the region after the new tax incentives were introduced.
make up for
if someone makes up for something bad that they have done, they do something good so that the bad thing does not cause a problem any more
The company tried to _____ the delay by offering a substantial discount.
set back
to make something happen more slowly, or to make something happen later than it should happen
The unexpected regulatory hurdles are expected to _____ the entire project by several months.
come between
if an argument or other problem comes between two or more people, it spoils their relationship
Nothing should ever _____ two colleagues who have worked together for over a decade.