5 Must-Have Phrases to Improve Your Business Meetings
Level: Intermediate | Topic: Business Meetings | Focus: ESL Business English
Whether you're leading or joining a business meeting, using the right words and expressions can help you sound more professional and confident. Here are 5 essential phrases you can start using today.
1. “Let’s circle back to that…”
Use this to delay a discussion and promise to return to it later.
Example: “That’s a good point. Let’s circle back to that after the budget update.”
Example: “That’s a good point. Let’s circle back to that after the budget update.”
2. “To clarify…”
Say this to make something clear or easy to understand.
Example: “To clarify, we’re moving the launch date to Q3.”
Example: “To clarify, we’re moving the launch date to Q3.”
3. “From my perspective…”
This shows that you’re sharing your personal view or opinion.
Example: “From my perspective, this strategy will help us grow faster.”
Example: “From my perspective, this strategy will help us grow faster.”
4. “Can we table this for now?”
This means to pause or postpone a topic in a polite way.
Example: “Can we table this for now and focus on the urgent issues?”
Example: “Can we table this for now and focus on the urgent issues?”
5. “Let’s take this offline.”
Use this when a discussion should happen privately or after the meeting.
Example: “We’re short on time—let’s take this offline.”
Example: “We’re short on time—let’s take this offline.”
📝 Vocabulary Quiz
💬 Discussion Questions (In Class or 1:1)
- Have you ever been in a meeting where someone used one of these phrases?
- Which expression would you find most useful in your job?
- Why is it important to sound polite and clear in business meetings?
- Role-play: Practice using “Let’s take this offline” and “To clarify” with a partner.