Below is a list of some common phrasal verbs used in business. The verbs with an asterisk (*) are separable (the verb can be split by its object).

to ask around
    to ask many people the same question
    I need a good real estate agent. Could you ask around and see if anyone knows one?

to back * up   = to support
    Thanks for backing me up in the meeting.

to call * back   = to return a phone call
    We have a bad connection. I’ll call you back in a few minutes.

to call * off   = to cancel
    Management is going to call the meeting off because so many people are out sick today.

to check in   = to arrive and register at a hotel or airport    We checked in around 5 p.m. and then got something to eat.
to check in (with someone)  =  to talk with someone to ensure things are going okay    As a manager, I feel it’s important to check in with everyone on my team at least once a day.

to check out  = to leave a hotel
    We checked out a few hours late and had to pay an extra fee.

to check * out   = to look at carefully, investigate
    I’m not sure why the copier isn’t working. I’ll check it out.

to chip/pitch in    = to help
    We should be able to finish quickly if everyone pitches in.

to come across   = to find unexpectedly
    I was reading last night and I came across a couple of phrasal verbs I had never seen before.

Complete the following sentences with correct Phrasal Verbs

1. Kevin is going to pick me up at the office and _____ me off at the airport.

2. I’m in a meeting right now and can’t talk. Can I _____ you back in about an hour?

3. I really need to finish this today. I should have done it earlier in the week, but I kept _____ it off.

4. I’m looking for a used laptop. Can you _____ around and see if anyone has one they want to sell?

5. They had planned a strike, but they _____ it off after management gave in to some of their demands.

6. I worked really late yesterday. I didn’t _____ in until about 8:30.

7. I’m going to _____ together with some of my coworkers this weekend.

8. I didn’t think anyone knew yet. How did you ____ out about the news?

9. It took him several hours to _____ out why his code wasn’t working.

10. Would you mind _____ out a short customer satisfaction survey?

11. After college, I briefly worked in New York and San Francisco, but I eventually _____ up in New Jersey.

12. Our company used to offer tuition reimbursement, but HR _____  away with the program.

13. We’re trying to ____ back on travel expenses this year. Last year we spent entirely too much.

14. Can we _____ on you to have this finished by the end of the week?

15. Do you think management will _____ in to the union’s demands?

16. You need to keep trying, even if you experience failure at first. Don’t _____ up!

17. Caroline had her baby last week. If everyone in the department _____ in, we can buy her a nice gift for the baby.  (two possible answers)

18. In English class last night, we _____ over everything we’ve learned in the last three months.

19. Before the meeting started, they _____ out the agenda to all of the participants. (two possible answers)

20. This is really confusing. It’s going to take hours to _____ out this mess.

21. I _____ into an old friend while I was at the bank today.  We decided to get coffee and catch up. (two possible answers)

22. Let’s _____ in to the hotel as soon as possible so we can get some rest.

23. Our IT department is  _____ up cubicles and workstations for the new employees.

24. I think we need to _____ around and get some other quotes. I think they might be overcharging us.

25. I want to take a few days off this month, but I don’t want to _____ up all my vacation days so early in the year.

26. We’re _____ out a new software programs to see how it works.

27. The new printer isn’t working. I just got off the phone with tech support and it looks like we’re going to have to _____ it back to the manufacturer to be repaired.

28. It’s a fantastic management book. You should ____ it out.

29. It’s a big decision. You should take some time to ______ it over.

30. We all ____ up to our CEO. She’s one of the most highly-accomplished people in her field.

31. Thanks for _____ me up during the meeting. I appreciate the support.

32. I was going to work on the presentation last night, but some friends of mine ______ by and I simply didn’t have time. (two possible answers)

33. I’m changing departments next week. It’s a welcome change. I’m really _____ forward to getting started.

34. I’m trying to _____ up smoking, but it’s been hard to quit.

35. If you want something, you have to _____ after it.

36. I forgot to _____ in my vacation request form. I hope they’ll still let me take the day off.

37. We should always be _____ out for new opportunities.

38. What we prepared wasn’t what they were looking for. It looks like it’s back to the drawing board and that we’re going to have to  _____ everything over.

39. Our financial records got _____ up, and we had to spend hours sorting things out.

40. The new addition was supposed to be completed by the end of March, but it wasn’t ready until the beginning of July. The contractors really _____ us down.

41. We’ve run out of office space. Management is _____ into ways to accommodate everyone. We may lease another floor in this building.

QUESTIONS:
Fill in the blank with the correct response:

1. We __________________________ up with a new structure. = We developed/created a new structure.
  came
  brought
  gave

2. We have to __________________________ out ( = develop) a better way to communicate with our customers.
  figure
  come
  give

3. They cut __________________________ ( = eliminated) the middleman and started providing this service themselves.
  off
  up
  out

4. Tom found a way to __________________________ ( = bypass/eliminate) this problem.
  get down
  get around
  get up

5. Please __________________________ on. = Please continue.
  give
  get
  go

6. We need to __________________________ ( = examine/review) these reports before 3:00 PM.
  go through
  get around
  give off

7. We need to _________________ ( = schedule/arrange) an interview for Friday.
  set up
  take off
  save up

8. The meeting has been __________________________ off ( = cancelled).
  made
  talked
  called

9. The president has called __________________________ ( = requested) sweeping changes in the way we do business.
  up
  for
  around

10. I knew they’d __________________________ to our way of thinking. = I knew that they would eventually accept our way of thinking.
  get up
  come around
  feel out

Phrasal Verbs Exercise
Choose the correct phrasal verb: go on / pick up / come back / come up with / go back / find out /
come out / go out / point out / grow up / set up / turn out / get out / come in (to) / take on.

1. Can you ________________________________________ (think of an idea) a better idea?

2. She ________________________________________ (showed, mentioned) that the shops
would already be closed.

3. I wish I hadn’t ________________________________________ (become responsible for) so
much work!

4. I ________________________________________ (went to an event) for dinner with my
husband last night.

5. He ________________________________________ (entered a place where the
speaker is) the kitchen and made some tea.

6. Where did you ________________________________________ (become an adult)?

7. I’d love to ___________________________________________ (arrange / create) my
own business.

8. I really want to ________________________________________ (leave a building) of this
office and go for a walk.

9. As I arrived, he ________________________________________ (appeared from a place)
of the door.

10. She ________________________________________ (got something from a place) some
dinner on the way home.

11. Could you ________________________________________ (get information) what time
we need to arrive?

12. I thought the conference was going to be boring but it
___________________________________ (in the end we discovered) to be quite useful.

13. What time did you ________________________________________ (return to a place
where the speaker is) yesterday?

14. She ________________________________________ (appeared from a place) of the café
and put on her gloves.

15. A performance _____________________________________________ (is happening) at
the moment.

16. He ________________________________________ (left a car) of the car.

17. He ________________________________________ (went to an event) a lot at the
weekend, so he’s tired today.

18. Can we ____________________________________________ (arrange / create) a meeting
next week?

19. Would anybody like to ________________________________________ (become
responsible for) this new client?

20. He ________________________________________ (returned to a place where the
speaker is) before I left.

21. It’s lovely watching my children ________________________________________
(become adults).

22. She ________________________________________ (returned to a place where the
speaker is not) to school.

23. He ____________________________________________ (showed, mentioned) the stars to
the children.

24. He ________________________________________ (returned to a place where the
speaker is not) to Poland last year.

25. He ________________________________________ (thought of an idea) a solution.

26. Please ________________________________________ (enter a place where the
speaker is)!

27. At the end of the film, it ________________________________________ (in the end we
discovered) that John was a good guy.

28. Could you ________________________________________ (get someone from a place)
Lucy later?

29. We need to ________________________________________ (get information) how much
it costs.

30. What ________________________________________ (‘s happening)?