12 Essential Phrasal Verbs for the Corporate World

Young thoughtful African American woman in a modern office looking at adhesive sticky notes on a glass project board, shot through glass with reflection, illustrating the blog topic "12 Phrasal Verbs for the Corporate World"

There’s a lot of jargon in the English corporate world. There is the specific jargon of each industry. But there’s also some specific vocabulary for working at any kind of job–some words and phrases everyone uses and understands.

Phrasal verbs are part of that working jargon. So, it’s a must that you know at least 12 essential phrasal verbs for the corporate world. This way, you’ll be able to get your way around your business with ease, making yourself understood and understanding others.

Get Ahead

This is used when someone wants to advance, especially to advance more than somebody else.

For example: I want my company to get ahead in the tech sector.

Walk Through

This is a very important one because it has to do with patience and teamwork. It means to guide someone through something, so they fully understand it.

For example: Please walk the new intern through his tasks.

Take On

This means to assume responsibility or a position.

For example: Guess what? I’m taking on the role of marketing manager at my job.

Go Over

This means reviewing something for the first time or as many times as needed.

For example: We need to go over the metrics at the next meeting.

Run Through

This is used to read, present or review something quickly.

For example: I’ll run through the main points we saw at yesterday’s conference, just to inform those of you who couldn’t be present.

Run By

Here’s another one with “run”. This time this means communicating something to someone, so they can approve it, or not.

For example: Hi, Mrs. Gilmore, I got an idea for the design of the new logo, and I wanted to run it by you.

Work Something Out

This means finding an answer or solution to something.

For example: We need to work out the finances or we’ll go broke.

Think Through

This means to think about something in great detail, to really analyze it and the possible outcomes. So you don’t act by impulse.

For example: I think it’s a bold idea; I’m going to have to think through it all day long, and I’ll tell you my verdict tomorrow.

Put Off

This is used to postpone something.

For example: The boss put off the meeting with the investors because he’s sick.

Turn Down

This means to reject something. It can also mean to lower the volume of a sound. But in business, the first meaning is more used, as there are many things in the job industry that can be rejected.

For example: I turned down the job offer they made me, because the payment wasn’t good enough.

Step Down

This is to resign or retire from your position.

For example: There’s a scandal, because it’s been announced that the chief surgeon of the best hospital in the country will step down from his position immediately.

Wrap Up

This means finishing something. It’s commonly used to start putting an end to a meeting.

For example: Since today is Mother’s Day, let’s wrap up the meeting now, so you can go home early to your kids.

Get Ahead in Your Career by Growing Your Spanish Skills

If you and your whole workforce is ready to take the next step towards your Spanish fluency, we can help you! Fluency Corp offers corporate language training in more than 10 languages, including Spanish!

We will not only teach you all the phrasal verbs you need for your career, but we’ll help you with many other language skills. Like reading, listening, speaking, writing…Our classes are completely customized to the job and your needs. So, honestly, we can help you with whatever you need.

We also encourage students to speak in their target language in every single class. It’s the best way to achieve language fluency! So, if you’re ready for your whole company to get ahead in the corporate world, investing in language classes for your team could be a good first step.

Simply choose between our online or onsite classes and contact us for a free consultation! We’ll walk you through every step of this journey with patience.

How to Communicate Across Cultures During the Holidays

Team of multicultural business people sharing ideas during a meeting in a modern office

The holiday season is one of the most globally diverse times of the year. While some employees celebrate Christmas, others observe Hanukkah, Las Posadas, Diwali, New Year traditions, or no holidays at all.

This is why it is vital for companies to know how to communicate across cultures during the holidays. For HR teams and global companies, this season can be a powerful opportunity to:

  • Strengthen inclusion
  • Improve communication
  • Celebrate cultural diversity
  • Reduce misunderstandings

At Fluency Corp, we help multinational teams communicate clearly and respectfully year-round, but during the holidays, the stakes feel higher.

Small misunderstandings can snowball into hurt feelings or exclusion if teams aren’t aligned. This guide will walk you through simple, practical ways to support smoother communication during the holidays, so everyone feels respected and included.

1. Use Inclusive Holiday Greetings

In global teams, a simple “Merry Christmas!” might unintentionally exclude employees who don’t celebrate it. Try these inclusive alternatives:

  • “Happy Holidays!”
  • “Wishing you a wonderful end of year!”
  • “Hope you enjoy the holiday season!”
  • “Sending warm wishes to you and your family!”

Inclusive greetings create space for all cultures and traditions without assuming a specific belief or celebration and it is vital to communicate across cultures during the holidays.

2. Be Mindful of Global Holiday Calendars

Not every holiday lands on December 25th. Team members may request time off for:

  • Las Posadas (Mexico)
  • Hanukkah
  • Diwali (depending on the year)
  • Winter Solstice/Yule
  • Kwanzaa
  • Boxing Day
  • Día de Reyes (Latin America & Spain)
  • Lunar New Year (January–February)

Global teams flourish when managers actively acknowledge international holiday schedules rather than reacting to last-minute PTO requests. Create a shared “Global Holidays” digital calendar to help everyone plan ahead.

3. Support Clear Communication in End-of-Year Meetings

During the holiday season, communication often becomes rushed, yet year-end meetings usually include critical topics like goals, performance reviews, and planning. International employees may struggle with:

  • Fast-paced discussions
  • Idioms or festive expressions
  • Small talk
  • Cultural references
  • Humor
  • Large-group meetings

Encourage managers to:

  • Slow down their speech
  • Avoid idioms like “let’s wrap it up” or “we’re in the home stretch”
  • Summarize key points in writing
  • Invite questions explicitly

These habits help everyone, not just non-native speakers. They are a great way to keep momentum going and communicate across cultures during the holidays.

4. Encourage Cultural Sharing (Optional, Not Expected)

Holidays create a wonderful opportunity for cultural exchange, when it’s voluntary. Invite employees (gently) to share something about their traditions:

  • A recipe
  • A song
  • A phrase in their language
  • A short explanation of a custom
  • A photo of a celebration

This builds team bonding without putting pressure on anyone to “represent” their culture.

Pro tip: Ask: “Would anyone like to share a holiday tradition from their home country?” instead of
“Tell us about your holiday traditions.” One invites; the other requires.

5. Avoid Assumptions About Availability

Some cultures slow down completely in December. Others operate normally. Some families celebrate multiple holidays; others none. To avoid conflict or confusion:

  • Confirm deadlines early
  • Ask about vacation plans openly
  • Consider staggered schedules
  • Include asynchronous options for global teams

Strong leadership is flexible leadership, and flexibility saves teams from unnecessary stress.

6. Offer Language Support for Holiday-Specific Situations

Non-native speakers often feel anxious about:

  • Holiday small talk
  • Gift exchanges
  • Corporate celebrations
  • End-of-year events
  • Social invitations

Providing even a short language-skills session (Fluency Corp specializes in this!) can massively boost confidence. A few helpful phrases to teach employees:

  • “Do you have plans for the holidays?”
  • “I’m traveling to visit family.”
  • “Thank you for the invitation!”
  • “I’d love to join!”
  • “I don’t celebrate, but thank you for including me!”

Small scripts create big confidence.

7. Celebrate Diversity, Not Uniformity

The most successful global companies embrace the holidays as an opportunity to honor diverse traditions rather than forcing everyone into one standard celebration. And a fantastic way to communicate across cultures during the holidays is by considering:

  • Multicultural holiday events
  • Global recipe share documents
  • Optional virtual gatherings
  • A “world holiday spotlight” series on Slack or Teams

Inclusion doesn’t mean merging all holidays into one, it means valuing each one equally.

The Holidays Are a Communication Opportunity

When teams work across cultures, communication is the foundation of trust and belonging. By approaching the holiday season with mindfulness, clarity, and inclusive language, your company can strengthen relationships and make every team member feel valued.

At Fluency Corp, we help companies create workplaces where global employees can thrive all year long. If your team could benefit from better communication skills or cross-cultural language training, we’d love to support you.

Exploring the Weird and Wonderful World of Business Jargon

Dictionary page with a close up of the word "jargon" to illustrate the topic of the blog, Business Jargon

Business jargon—a mysterious language filled with buzzwords, acronyms, and metaphors—thrives in workplaces worldwide. While some terms streamline communication, others may leave you scratching your head. Why does this unique dialect exist? How can you navigate its complexities?

Let’s explore this weird and wonderful world, shedding light on its quirks, uncovering its utility in professional life, and offering strategies for mastering it.

The Origin of Business Jargon

Business jargon has evolved alongside organizational culture. Rooted in industries seeking efficiency, its goal is often to communicate complex ideas quickly.

However, terms can sometimes lose clarity when overused or misunderstood. According to Harvard Business Review, jargon serves as both a unifier and a divider: it creates shared understanding within groups but can alienate outsiders.

Consider terms like “paradigm shift” or “blue sky thinking”—these originated in academic or corporate settings but have since permeated everyday business language. Over time, these phrases became shorthand for broader concepts, saving time for insiders but potentially puzzling newcomers.

Weird & Wonderful Examples

1. “Boiling the Ocean”

Meaning: Attempting to accomplish an impossible or overly ambitious task.
Use: “We can’t boil the ocean; let’s start with achievable goals.”
Origins: This phrase likely emerged in management circles, emphasizing focus and practicality over unattainable aspirations.

2. “Circle Back”

Meaning: Revisit a topic later.
Use: “Let’s circle back to this after the meeting.”
Origins: Common in corporate settings, this phrase signifies an intention to prioritize and revisit ideas.

3. “Synergy”

Meaning: Collaboration that yields greater results than individual efforts.
Use: “Our teams working together have created real synergy.”
Origins: Popularized in the 1980s and 1990s, this term embodies the ideal of collective success in business.

The Good, the Bad, & the Confusing

The Good:

  • Efficiency: Terms like ROI (Return on Investment) save time by encapsulating complex concepts in short, widely understood acronyms.
  • Community: Shared language fosters team unity and helps professionals bond over a common dialect.

 

The Bad:

 

The Confusing:

  • Mixed metaphors like “drill down” and “low-hanging fruit” often create an odd juxtaposition, leaving listeners baffled and disengaged.

The Cultural Perspective

Business jargon reflects cultural nuances, particularly in multilingual workplaces. What’s perfectly normal in one country might sound odd in another. For instance, American idioms like “get the ball rolling” may be confusing to non-native speakers unfamiliar with its sports origins.

Similarly, British phrases like “touch base” might seem puzzling to an audience outside the UK or US.

Understanding these variations is crucial for global communication. Inclusive workplaces benefit from training programs that help bridge these cultural and linguistic gaps. For tips on fostering cross-cultural communication, check out our blog on language diversity in the workplace.

Why Understanding Business Jargon Matters

Mastering business jargon can enhance workplace communication, strengthen relationships, and boost career growth. For instance, knowing terms like KPI (Key Performance Indicator) or EBITDA (Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation, and Amortization) signals fluency in business language and demonstrates professionalism.

But what if you’re not fluent? Many professionals benefit from targeted language training programs designed to build workplace fluency. Learn more about our corporate language training for retention.

Breaking Down Jargon for Multilingual Teams

For non-native speakers, business jargon can be particularly daunting. It’s not just about learning English—it’s about learning an entirely new subset of English. Programs like English courses for safety training help employees grasp both technical terms and workplace idioms.

For example, phrases like “ping me” or “leverage our core competencies” might initially sound strange but are commonplace in certain industries. Structured training fosters inclusivity and ensures clarity across diverse teams, enabling everyone to contribute effectively.

The Role of Mentorship in Decoding Jargon

Mentorship plays a vital role in helping employees navigate corporate lingo. A good mentor not only explains unfamiliar terms but also provides context, helping mentees understand when and how to use jargon effectively.

Mentorship programs can be particularly valuable for early-career professionals and employees transitioning into new industries. To maximize the benefits of mentorship, explore our guide on making the most of your mentor relationship.

The Future of Business Communication

As workplaces become increasingly digital and global, the nature of business jargon is evolving. Terms like “blockchain” and “cloud-native” are replacing older buzzwords, reflecting technological shifts. However, the challenge remains the same: how to communicate complex ideas clearly and inclusively.

According to a report from LinkedIn, emerging technologies will continue to shape professional language. Companies must adapt by fostering clear, inclusive communication practices that transcend jargon barriers.

For insights on integrating language and technology, explore our post on how to learn business English using Netflix.

How to Thrive in the World of Jargon

  • Ask Questions: Never hesitate to seek clarification. Most people will appreciate your effort to understand.
  • Stay Updated: Read industry publications like Business Weekly to stay informed about the latest terms.
  • Invest in Training: Programs like language training to retain rising talent equip teams with the skills to decode and use jargon effectively.
  • Be Mindful: Use jargon judiciously. Overloading your speech or writing with buzzwords can obscure your message rather than clarify it.

Business jargon may seem bewildering at first, but it’s a valuable tool when used effectively. By embracing training, mentorship, and cultural understanding, professionals can unlock its potential to enhance communication and collaboration.

Remember, clarity and inclusivity should always take precedence over sounding trendy. Ready to dive deeper? Start your journey with our guide on learning American English slang.

Reach Out to Fluency Corp – Your Partner in Fluency

Navigating the maze of business jargon and workplace communication doesn’t have to be overwhelming. Whether you’re looking to empower your team with language fluency, boost inclusivity, or simply decode the complexities of corporate lingo, Fluency Corp is here to help.

With personalized training programs and proven strategies, we’re committed to helping professionals and organizations thrive in today’s global, multilingual business world.

Ready to unlock the power of words? Contact us today and let’s work together to achieve fluency, clarity, and success in every conversation.