Business English Master
Your Complete Professional Communication Guide
Top Business Expressions by Category
Meetings & Discussions
Essential phrases for professional meetings
"Let's get the ball rolling"
Meaning: Let's start / begin
💡 Example: "Let's get the ball rolling with the Q3 review."
💡 Example: "We have an hour. Let's get the ball rolling with introductions."
"Could we circle back to this later?"
Meaning: Return to this topic at a future time
💡 Example: "I don't have the data now. Could we circle back to this later?"
💡 Example: "Let's circle back to pricing after we discuss features."
"I'd like to table this for now"
Meaning: Postpone discussion
💡 Example: "Given time constraints, I'd like to table this for now."
💡 Example: "This needs more research. Let's table it until next week."
"Let's touch base on Friday"
Meaning: Have a brief meeting/conversation
💡 Example: "Let's touch base on Friday to review progress."
💡 Example: "I'll send the draft. Let's touch base next week to discuss edits."
"Let's run this up the flagpole"
Meaning: Present idea to see reactions
💡 Example: "It's a bold idea. Let's run it up the flagpole with the CEO."
💡 Example: "Before committing, let's run this up the flagpole with stakeholders."
"Let's take this offline"
Meaning: Discuss privately or separately
💡 Example: "This is getting detailed. Let's take this offline after the meeting."
💡 Example: "That's a good point. Let's take this offline and circle back tomorrow."
"Can you bring me up to speed?"
Meaning: Update me on current situation
💡 Example: "I was on leave. Can you bring me up to speed on the project?"
💡 Example: "I missed yesterday's meeting. Can someone bring me up to speed?"
Email Communication
Professional email expressions
"I hope this email finds you well"
Usage: Formal opening greeting
💡 Alternative: "I trust this message finds you in good spirits"
💡 Alternative: "I hope you're doing well"
"As per our conversation"
Usage: Referring to previous discussion
💡 Example: "As per our conversation yesterday, I'm sending the proposal."
💡 Example: "As per our phone call this morning, here are the figures."
"Please find attached"
Usage: Referring to email attachments
💡 Example: "Please find attached the quarterly report for your review."
💡 Example: "Please find attached the signed contract and invoice."
"I look forward to hearing from you"
Usage: Professional closing
💡 Alternative: "I await your response" (more formal)
💡 Alternative: "Looking forward to your feedback"
"Thank you for your prompt response"
Usage: Acknowledging quick reply
💡 Example: "Thank you for your prompt response. This helps us move forward quickly."
💡 Example: "I appreciate your prompt response regarding the contract terms."
"I am writing to inquire about..."
Usage: Formal inquiry opening
💡 Example: "I am writing to inquire about your consulting services."
💡 Example: "I am writing to inquire about the status of my application."
"Per your request"
Usage: Following up on something asked
💡 Example: "Per your request, I've included the updated timeline."
💡 Example: "Per your request, here is the detailed breakdown of costs."
Negotiations & Deals
Persuasive business language
"It's a win-win situation"
Meaning: Beneficial for both parties
💡 Example: "This partnership would be a win-win situation for both companies."
💡 Example: "If we share resources, it's a win-win situation that reduces costs."
"Let's meet halfway"
Meaning: Compromise/find middle ground
💡 Example: "You want $50k, I can offer $40k. Let's meet halfway at $45k."
💡 Example: "We both have valid points. Let's meet halfway and find a solution."
"That's our bottom line"
Meaning: Final/minimum acceptable offer
💡 Example: "We can go as low as $30k, but that's our bottom line."
💡 Example: "Three months delivery time is our bottom line. We can't do faster."
"We need to hammer out the details"
Meaning: Work through specifics carefully
💡 Example: "The concept is solid, now we need to hammer out the details."
💡 Example: "Let's hammer out the details on payment terms and delivery schedules."
"Let's seal the deal"
Meaning: Finalize the agreement
💡 Example: "Everything looks good. Let's seal the deal with a contract."
💡 Example: "We're aligned on all points. Shall we seal the deal today?"
"What's your ballpark figure?"
Meaning: Rough estimate or approximate number
💡 Example: "I don't need exact costs yet. What's your ballpark figure?"
💡 Example: "Just to plan the budget, what's your ballpark figure for this project?"
Presentations & Reports
Impactful presentation phrases
"The key takeaway is..."
Usage: Highlighting main point
💡 Example: "The key takeaway is that we exceeded targets by 20%."
"To put this in perspective..."
Usage: Providing context/comparison
💡 Example: "To put this in perspective, that's a 300% increase year-over-year."
"As illustrated in the chart..."
Usage: Referring to visual data
💡 Example: "As illustrated in the chart, Q3 saw significant growth."
"Moving forward..."
Usage: Discussing future plans
💡 Example: "Moving forward, we'll implement quarterly reviews."
Problem Solving
Addressing challenges professionally
"Let's think outside the box"
Meaning: Consider creative solutions
💡 Example: "This approach isn't working. Let's think outside the box."
"We need to address the elephant in the room"
Meaning: Discuss obvious but ignored issue
💡 Example: "Let's address the elephant in the room: our declining sales."
"We're on the same page"
Meaning: We agree/understand each other
💡 Example: "Before we proceed, let's make sure we're on the same page."
"Let's pivot our strategy"
Meaning: Change direction/approach
💡 Example: "Market conditions changed. Let's pivot our strategy."
Time & Deadlines
Managing time professionally
"This is time-sensitive"
Meaning: Urgent/needs quick action
💡 Example: "This is time-sensitive. We need a decision by EOD."
"At your earliest convenience"
Usage: Polite way to request prompt action
💡 Example: "Please review the contract at your earliest convenience."
"We're working against the clock"
Meaning: Working under time pressure
💡 Example: "We're working against the clock to meet the launch date."
"Could we push back the deadline?"
Meaning: Extend/postpone deadline
💡 Example: "Due to unforeseen issues, could we push back the deadline?"
Essential Business Vocabulary
💰 Finance & Accounting
Revenue
Total income generated from sales
Cash Flow
Movement of money in/out of business
ROI (Return on Investment)
Measure of profitability
Assets
Resources owned by the company
Liabilities
Financial obligations/debts
Profit Margin
Percentage of revenue retained as profit
📱 Marketing & Sales
Target Audience
Specific group of potential customers
Conversion Rate
% of visitors who become customers
Lead Generation
Process of attracting potential customers
Brand Awareness
Recognition of brand by consumers
Value Proposition
Unique benefit offered to customers
Market Penetration
Extent of product adoption in market
👔 HR & Management
Stakeholder
Person with interest in the business
Bandwidth
Available capacity/resources
Synergy
Collaborative benefit > sum of parts
Scalability
Ability to grow without constraints
Due Diligence
Thorough research before decision
Deliverables
Tangible outputs/results expected
🚀 Power Verbs for Business Impact
Achievement
• Accomplished
• Achieved
• Delivered
• Executed
• Implemented
Leadership
• Spearheaded
• Orchestrated
• Directed
• Championed
• Facilitated
Growth
• Expanded
• Accelerated
• Maximized
• Optimized
• Scaled
Innovation
• Pioneered
• Revolutionized
• Transformed
• Streamlined
• Redesigned
Real Business Scenarios
Requesting a Meeting
Email Template:
Subject: Request for Meeting - Q4 Strategy Discussion
Body:
Dear [Name],
I hope this email finds you well.
I would like to schedule a meeting to discuss our Q4 strategy and review the upcoming initiatives. Would you have 30 minutes available next week?
I'm flexible with timing and happy to work around your schedule. Please let me know what works best for you.
Looking forward to your response.
Best regards,
[Your Name]
💡 Key Elements: Polite opening, clear purpose, flexible approach, professional closing
Handling a Complaint
Response Template:
Dear [Customer],
Thank you for bringing this to our attention. I sincerely apologize for the inconvenience you've experienced.
I understand your frustration, and I want to assure you that we take this matter very seriously.
Here's what I'll do:
1. Investigate the issue immediately
2. Provide a resolution within 24 hours
3. Ensure this doesn't happen again
Could you please provide [specific details] so I can expedite the resolution?
Thank you for your patience and understanding.
Warm regards,
[Your Name]
💡 Key Elements: Acknowledge issue, empathize, take responsibility, provide action plan
Negotiating Terms
Conversation Flow:
Opening Position:
"I appreciate your offer, and I believe there's great potential here. However, I'd like to discuss the terms to ensure it works for both parties."
Counter Proposal:
"What if we structured it this way: [Your proposal]. This would create more value for both sides."
Finding Middle Ground:
"I understand your constraints. Let's meet halfway - how about we [compromise suggestion]?"
Closing:
"I think we're aligned on the key points. Shall we draft an agreement based on this discussion?"
💡 Key Strategy: Respect their position, focus on mutual benefit, be flexible, close decisively
Presenting Bad News
Communication Structure:
1. Set the Context
"I wanted to update you on the project status. We've made good progress, but I need to discuss a challenge we're facing."
2. Deliver the News Directly
"Unfortunately, we're going to miss the original deadline due to [specific reason]."
3. Take Responsibility
"I take full responsibility for this situation, and I should have anticipated these issues earlier."
4. Provide Solutions
"Here's my action plan: [Detailed steps]. We can deliver by [new date], which is [X days] later than planned."
5. Offer Reassurance
"I'm committed to ensuring this doesn't impact our overall objectives, and I'll keep you updated every step of the way."
💡 Key Principle: Be direct, own the problem, focus on solutions, maintain confidence
Business English Quiz
What does "let's touch base" mean in a business context?
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