Idioms and phrasal verbs in business communication

© Atayeva Gulchexra, 2025

ISBN 978-5-0067-5582-6

Создано в интеллектуальной издательской системе Ridero

G.B. Atayeva

IDIOMS AND PHRASAL VERBS IN BUSINESS COMMUNICATION

MUNDARIJA

UNIT 1. MEETINGS

LESSON 1. A MEETING IS «A PAIN IN THE NECK»

Lesson Aims:

– To learn and master 19 idioms and phrasal verbs related to business and meetings.

– To practice using the target vocabulary in controlled and semi-controlled exercises.

– To develop comprehension and translation skills.

– To apply the new vocabulary in a practical speaking task.

Ex.1 Warm-Up. Instructions: Discuss the following questions with a partner.

– Think about the last meeting you attended (at work, university, etc.). What was its purpose? Was it effective? Why or why not?

– In your opinion, what are the top 3 ingredients for a successful meeting?

– What does the English idiom «a pain in the neck» mean? How can it relate to meetings?

Exercise 2. Study the following vocabulary items. Note down their definitions and translations to memorize them. Make 6 sentences using active vocabulary.

Ex.3 Vocabulary Translation

Exercise 4. Match the idioms and phrasal verbs on the left with their correct definitions on the right.

Exercise 5. Complete the sentences using the correct idiom or phrasal verb from the box.

be behind, is down to, bring on, bring up, cash in on, cater to, cancel out

– The company’s financial problem _______________ poor management.

– The marketing team is trying to _______________ the new trend for vintage-style products.

– I wanted to _______________ the salary issue at the meeting, but I was too nervous.

– Who do you think _______________ the idea to move our office to a new location?

– The long hours and heavy workload can _______________ a lot of stress.

– The high shipping costs unfortunately _______________ the discount we offer.

– Our new software is designed to _______________ the specific needs of architects.

Exercise 6. Rewrite each sentence using the idiom in parentheses so that it has the same meaning

Example: They had to cancel the flight due to bad weather. (call off)

→ They had to call off the flight due to bad weather.

– This difficult problem requires a creative solution. (call for)

– The project got stuck because there was too much paperwork. (bog down)

– The company decided to reintroduce its most popular product from the 1990s. (bring back)

– The new CEO’s policies created significant changes in the company culture. (bring about)

– We must perform a detailed market analysis before launching the product. (carry out)

Exercise 7. a) Translate the following sentences into your native language

The team needs to come up with a new strategy by Friday.

– The new regulations brought about many challenges for small businesses.

– We had to call off the outdoor event because of the rain.

b) Translate the following sentences into English using a suitable idiom or phrasal verb from the vocabulary list.

– (UZ) Bizning yangi mahsulotimiz yoshlar orasida tezda ommalashdi.

– (RU) Наш новый продукт быстро стал популярным среди молодёжи.

– (UZ) Uning taklifi kompaniya siyosatiga mutlaqo mos kelmadi.

– (RU) Его предложение совершенно не соответствовало политике компании.

– (UZ) Yangi loyiha hali rejalashtirish bosqichida.

– (RU) Новый проект всё ещё находится на стадии планирования.

Exercise 8. Reading and Understanding

Some people dread meetings more than Monday mornings. They find them boring, unproductive and far too long. When a regular meeting is in the pipeline, people either come up with excuses or ignore them altogether. Have you ever thought about what is behind people’s fears? In most cases, the failure is down to the absence of purpose. Some employees are off meetings because they are afraid that their contributions will be out of line with their boss’s expectations. Some meetings though bog down for lack of ideas. Besides, the reluctance of employees can be brought about by their unpreparedness. When a meeting is called for, memos should be circulated in advance. If a meeting doesn’t bring forth expected results, it may cancel out all your efforts. My advice on how to bring back employees’ commitment is simple: bring on no more than ten participants, bring up questions that demand urgent consideration, never call off a meeting, and don’t let people cash in on criticisms. If you don’t carry out these instructions, meetings will never catch on with employees. They must cater to everybody’s requirements.

Comprehension Questions:

– According to the text, why do some employees dislike or avoid meetings? Name at least two reasons.

– What does the author suggest to do when a meeting is «called for»?

– What negative effect can a meeting that «doesn’t bring forth results» have?

Exercise 9. Complete the dialogue using the phrasal verbs from the box. Use each phrase only once.

get bogged down, bring it up, came up with, carry out, call for

Manager: Okay team, this situation is serious. It will __________immediate action. We’ve lost two major clients this month.

Anna: I agree. I _____________ an idea last night. What if we offer a loyalty discount to our existing clients?

Mark: That’s a good start. But how do we implement it? We need a clear plan that we can _____________ immediately.

Manager: Exactly. Let’s focus on the solution. I don’t want to _____________ in blaming each other for the past.

Anna: I also have a concern about our current software. Should I __________ now or wait?

Manager: Let’s discuss that in our next meeting. For now, Let’s focus on the client loyalty plan.

Exercise10. Imagine you are at a meeting. You have two minutes to promote a new product or an idea to your team. Prepare a short speech (a «pitch»). You must use at least FOUR of the vocabulary items from this lesson.

Use this plan to develop your ideas:

– Introduction: State the problem or opportunity. (e.g., «Our current process often bogs down…»)

– The Solution: Present your idea. (e.g., «I’ve come up with a solution that will…»)

– The Benefits: Explain the positive results. (e.g., «This will bring about more efficiency and…»)

– Call to Action: Suggest the next step. (e.g., «This situation calls for a quick decision. I believe we should carry out a pilot test…»)

LESSON 2. MAKING MEETINGS MORE EFFECTIVE

Lesson Aims:

– To learn and master 13 idioms and phrasal verbs related to managing and improving meetings.

– To practice using the target vocabulary in controlled and semi-controlled exercises.

– To develop comprehension and translation skills.

– To apply the new vocabulary in a practical writing or speaking task.

Ex.1 Warm-Up. Instructions: Discuss the following questions with a partner.

– What actions can a manager take to clamp down on unproductive or overly long meetings?

– In your opinion, what is the best way to beef up team participation in a meeting?

– Have you ever been at odds over an idea with a colleague? How did you resolve the disagreement?

Exercise 2. Study the following vocabulary items. Note down their definitions and translations to memorize them. Make 6 sentences using active vocabulary.

Ex.3 Vocabulary Translation

Exercise 4. Match the idioms and phrasal verbs on the left with their correct definitions on the right.

Exercise 5. Complete the sentences using the correct idiom or phrasal verb from the box.

be in the pipeline, beef up, came up with, comes down to, chalk up, chime in with, clamp down on

– We need to _______________ security after the recent data breach.

– The management has decided to _______________ lateness to meetings.

– Ultimately, business success _______________ one thing: customer satisfaction.

– The marketing team hopes to _______________ another record-breaking sales quarter.

– A few new projects _______________, but they haven’t been announced yet.

– Sara _______________ a brilliant idea to save the company money.

– His suggestions _______________ our team’s goals, so everyone agreed.

Exercise 6. Rewrite each sentence using the idiom in parentheses so that it has the same meaning.

Example: They had to cancel the flight due to bad weather. (call off)

→ They had to call off the flight due to bad weather.

– I hope our new marketing plan is successful. (come off)

– The company needs to get stricter about employees misusing company resources. (clamp down on)

– After hours of brainstorming, we finally thought of a solution. (come up with)

– No one offered any suggestions during the meeting. (come forward with)

– This extra battery will definitely be useful during our trip. (come in handy)

Exercise 7. a) Translate the following sentences into your native language.

– The board of directors is at odds over the new budget proposal.

– Let’s hope the new flexible working hours policy will catch on with the employees.

– The success of this project comes down to effective teamwork.

b) Translate the following sentences into English using a suitable idiom or phrasal verb from the vocabulary list.

– (UZ) Biz taqdimotimizni kuchaytirish uchun ko‘proq statistika qo’shishimiz kerak.

– (RU) Нам нужно добавить больше статистики, чтобы усилить нашу презентацию.

– (UZ) Kompaniya yana bir muvaffaqiyatli yilni qayd etdi.

– (RU) Компания записала на свой счёт ещё один успешный год.

– (UZ) Yaxshi lug‘at imtihon paytida juda as qotadi.

– (RU) Хороший словарь очень пригодится во время экзамена.

Exercise 8. Reading and Understanding.

Of course, managers can clamp down on employees’ reluctance to attend meetings, but it is not effective at all. A better way is to beef up the role of meetings and make them catch on with employees. After a lot of effort, the managers’ new approach to meetings came off. Now they can chalk up some success by classifying meetings by purpose.

Some meetings are held to share information, where participants say if they chime in with the opinions expressed, or if they are at odds over some points. When it comes down to problem-solving meetings, the aim is not just to come up with ideas but also to put solutions into practice. The venue is also important. Employees hate being forced to clock in for a formal meeting. As a result, it may come in handy to arrange informal «stand-up» meetings where everyone can come forward with solutions. These new types of meetings are productive, and more genuine ideas are still in the pipeline.

Comprehension Questions:

– According to the text, what is a better alternative to clamping down on employees?

– What is the main goal of a «problem-solving meeting»?

– Why might a «stand-up meeting» be more effective than a formal one?

Exercise 9. Complete the dialogue using the phrasal verbs from the box. Use each phrase only once.

chime in with, comes down to, beef up, come up with, at odds over

Manager: The feedback on our new app has been poor. We need to ___________ its features and performance.

Team Lead: I agree. I think it all ___________ the user interface. It’s not intuitive.

Developer 1: I have to disagree. The UI is fine. The real problem is server speed.

Manager: So, you two are ___________ the core problem. We need to investigate both. What we really need is a creative solution. Can anyone ___________ a new idea?

Developer 2: I ___________ the Team Lead. A simpler interface would solve 80% of the complaints.

Exercise 10. Imagine you are at a meeting. You have two minutes to propose an improvement for your company or department. Prepare a short speech (a «pitch»). You must use at least FOUR of the vocabulary items from this lesson.

Use this plan to develop your ideas:

– Introduction: State the problem or opportunity. (e.g., «We need to beef up our customer service response times…»)

– The Solution: Present your idea. (e.g., «I’ve come up with an idea for a new training program that I think will really catch on with the team…»)

– The Benefits: Explain the positive results. (e.g., «This new system will come in handy for tracking progress…»)

– Call to Action: Suggest the next step. (e.g., «I’d like to come forward with a detailed plan next week…»)

LESSON 3. THE ROLE OF THE CHAIRPERSON

Lesson Aims:

– To learn and master 15 idioms and phrasal verbs related to chairing and managing meetings.

– To practice using the target vocabulary in controlled and semi-controlled exercises.

– To develop comprehension and translation skills.

– To apply the new vocabulary in a practical speaking or writing task.

Ex.1 Warm-Up. Instructions: Discuss the following questions with a partner.

– Can you describe a time when a project or discussion started to get bogged down? What was the reason?

– What part of your job or studies currently cries out for more attention or improvement?

– Think of a big upcoming project. Why do you think the project manager has his/her work cut out for them?

Exercise 2. Study the following vocabulary items. Note down their definitions and translations to memorize them. Make 6 sentences using active vocabulary.

Ex.3 Vocabulary Translation

Exercise 4. Match the idioms and phrasal verbs on the left with their correct definitions on the right.

Exercise 5. Complete the sentences using the correct idiom or phrasal verb from the box.

be carried away, clamp down on, cut off, be down to, spark, do away with, cancel out

– The manager had to _______________ the speaker because he was going way over his allotted time.

– The new policy is intended to _______________ inefficient and outdated procedures.

– The announcement of bonuses is sure to _______________ a lot of excitement among the staff.

– His brilliant idea was exciting, but we shouldn’t _______________; we need to check the budget first.

– We need to _______________ unauthorized use of company vehicles.

– The success of this launch will _______________ the marketing team.

– The savings from the new software will unfortunately _______________ the increased cost of materials.

Exercise 6. Rewrite each sentence using the idiom in parentheses so that it has the same meaning.

Example: They had to cancel the flight due to bad weather. (call off)

→ They had to call off the flight due to bad weather.

– The project details are being kept secret for now. (keep under wraps)

– With three new projects starting at once, we face a very difficult task. (have our work cut out for us)

– Let’s not get stuck discussing minor details. (get bogged down)

– Several unexpected problems appeared last week. (crop up)

– He simply dismissed my concerns as unimportant. (brush away)