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Lesson guide & glossary

Negotiations & Deals — C1 Phrasal Verbs

This lesson covers 25 C2 phrasal verbs on Negotiations & Deals. 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.

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Lesson glossary (25 phrasal verbs)

  • bring in

    if something, for example a company, brings people or business in, it attracts people, often encouraging them to buy products or services

    The new sustainability initiative is expected to _____ significant foreign investment.

  • go after

    to try to get something that you want [e.g. job]

    The company is aggressively _____ the top talent in the AI sector.

  • add up

    to calculate the total of two or more numbers

    Please _____ the costs of the new software licenses and the training program.

  • reel off

    to say a long list of things quickly and without stopping

    The CEO was able to _____ a long list of successful projects from memory.

  • aim at

    to intend something to influence someone, or to be noticed or bought by someone

    The advertising campaign is _____ young professionals who travel frequently for work.

  • coast along

    to do only the things that you have to do without trying to go faster or be more successful

    The company had been _____ for years without any real innovation until the new CEO arrived.

  • flatten out

    if the rate of something flattens out, or if something flattens it out, it stops increasing and decreasing and begins to stay at the same level

    After months of rapid growth the market demand has finally begun to _____ .

  • pass over

    to not give someone a job or a higher position and give it to someone else who is younger or less experienced

    The promotion committee decided to _____ several more experienced candidates.

  • clear out

    to leave a place

    The entire department was told to _____ by the end of the week due to restructuring.

  • gang up

    to form a group to act against someone else

    The smaller firms decided to _____ the dominant player in the market.

  • have against

    to dislike or disagree with someone or something for a particular reason

    She doesn't seem to _____ the new proposal at all.

  • flirt with

    to talk and behave towards someone in a way that is sexually attractive and which shows that person that you are sexually attracted to them

    The board has been _____ the idea of a major restructuring for several months.

  • spring on

    to tell someone some news that surprises them

    The manager decided to _____ the team with the unexpected news about the budget cuts.

  • walk away

    to stop being involved in a situation that is difficult to deal with or that does not give you any advantages

    The frustrated negotiator finally decided to _____ from the stalled talks.

  • work around

    to organise activities to ensure that a problem does not prevent you from doing what you want to do

    The team had to creatively _____ the new regulatory restrictions to keep the project on track.

  • press on

    to continue doing something in a determined way

    Despite the setbacks the team decided to _____ with the original timeline.

  • wrap up

    to complete an activity, especially successfully

    The chairman decided to neatly _____ the long and difficult meeting with a short summary.

  • get up

    to sth to reach a particular place in something that you are doing and to stop there

    The discussion finally _____ the most controversial point of the entire agenda.

  • keep out of

    to not become involved in something

    The junior staff were told to _____ the ongoing merger negotiations.

  • keep in with

    to continue to be friendly with someone, especially because they can help you

    It's wise to _____ the senior partners if you want to advance in the firm.

  • cotton on

    to begin to understand a situation or fact

    It took the board a while to fully _____ to the hidden risks in the proposed merger.

  • patch up

    to try to improve your relationship with someone after an argument

    The two departments managed to _____ their differences before the final presentation.

  • wind up

    to finish an activity

    The chairman decided to _____ the lengthy meeting with a short summary.

  • breeze in

    to walk in quickly and confidently

    The new CEO simply _____ the room and immediately took control of the meeting.

  • see about

    to deal with something, or to arrange for something to be done

    I will _____ the travel arrangements for the entire research team tomorrow.