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English Business Phrases and Sayings You Need to Know

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If you plan on doing business in the United States, it’s crucial that you learn the most common English business phrases and what they really mean. This information will make it possible for you to succeed in any field and form closer bonds with your coworkers! 

In this article, we’ll be discussing phrases you can use in a variety of work- and business-related situations. This includes, but isn’t limited to: 

  • Job Interviews
  • Business Meetings
  • Business Phone Etiquette & Phrases
Log in to Download Your Free Cheat Sheet - Business Words and Phrases in English Table of Contents
  1. Before We Begin…
  2. Business Communication Phrases You Need
  3. Final Thoughts

1. Before We Begin…

Before looking at our list of business English phrases, there are a couple of things you should be aware of.

A- A Note on Niceties

An Old Man Raising His Hat to Someone

In the United States, one of the most important aspects of business communication is niceties. In this case, a nicety is basically a way of sounding polite when you speak with others in your office or workplace. For example, saying things like “Excuse me,” “Please,” and “Thank you,” are extremely important in day-to-day interactions. Watch for these types of words as you read through this article. 

In addition, you’ll find it helpful to note the differences between informal and formal speech for the workplace, though we won’t go too much into this. Oftentimes, when you speak to a boss, client, or coworker, it’s good to use longer phrases that contain “polite” words in them. For example:

Informal speech might look like this: “Can we talk later?”
Formal speech for the same sentence might look like this: “I would like to discuss ___ with you later, if you’re available.”

Note the additional words in the formal version, and how they create a sense of respect for the other person and their time. This is what you should aim for in most of your workplace interactions.

B- Idiomatic Business Phrases and What They Really Mean

There are many English business phrases you may hear in the office or during a meeting, and have no idea what they mean! Here are some of the most common business- and work-related idioms and what they mean. 

  • Win-win situation. A win-win situation refers to a situation where both sides “win,” meaning that they each benefit from a decision. This term is often used in negotiations.
  • Win-lose situation. In a win-lose situation, one side benefits from a decision, while the other side does not (or even loses something). This term is often used in negotiations.
  • Running out of steam. When a person is “running out of steam,” it usually means that they’re tired or low on energy/creativity. When a thing or project is “running out of steam,” it usually means that it’s slowing down or not doing as well as it once was.
A Woman Tired and Stressed about Work and School
  • Deadline. A deadline refers to a due date, or the last possible date at which something needs to be accomplished.
  • Take a breather. When someone “takes a breather,” it means that they’re taking a break from something or taking time off from work or a project. 
  • Off the ground. When you get something “off the ground,” it means that you’ve made it good enough that it can continue to do well in the future. For example, if you get a business “off the ground,” it means that you’ve helped that business do well for the long-term.
  • Red tape. This refers to a hindrance, something that makes it difficult to complete a task or achieve a goal. 
  • Get the ball rolling. When you “get the ball rolling” on a new project, etc., it means that you’ve started or initiated with the goal that it will quickly gain momentum (like how a ball continues to roll for a while after you’ve set it into motion). 
  • Go the extra mile. To “go the extra mile” means to do more than what’s expected of you. There’s a story in the Bible of Jesus having told his disciples: “Whoever forces you to go one mile, go with him two.” This is thought to be where the term originated from. You can read more about this idiom’s origins on Grammarist
  • Cut corners. When you “cut corners,” you do things as simply and easily as you can, even at the expense of quality. This is usually considered a negative thing.
  • Pitch in. When you “pitch in,” it means that you do your fair share of work in a team project. 
  • Start from scratch. When you start something “from scratch,” it means that you start it from the very beginning. This can refer to starting a brand-new project, or undoing everything you’ve done on a project and starting over.
  • Green light / Red light (something). When something is “green lighted,” this means that the thing has been given permission to start or continue. When something is “red lighted” it means the exact opposite. You may hear phrases like “It was given the green light,” when talking about permission.
  • Behind / Ahead of / According to schedule. The phrase “behind schedule” means that something isn’t going to get done on time, usually by a set deadline. The phrase “ahead of schedule” means that you’ve actually gotten more done than you needed to. When something goes “according to schedule,” it means that the project or assignment will be done exactly on time.
  • Put into action. When you put something “into action,” it means that you’re executing based on an idea, concept, or plan; taking the first steps. You may hear phrases like “It’s time to put our plan into action,” or “You need to put your training into action.” 
  • Tasked with. When you’re “tasked with” something, it means that you’ve been assigned with a responsibility. For example, if you’re “tasked with” writing a report, you’re expected to get that report done.
  • Outsource a task. When you “outsource a task,” it means that you’re giving a task to someone else,  usually someone who’s not a part of your company. For example, your company may “outsource” its advertising to a more prominent advertising company to save time or money.
  • Wrap up / Sign off. These two phrases are both used usually at the end of a meeting. When you “wrap (something) up,” it means that you’re in the process of ending it. When you “sign off” in the workplace, it can mean that you’re leaving a discussion or leaving work for the day, depending on the context.
  • 24/7. When something happens “24/7,” it means that it happens all the time (twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week).
  • Bottom line. This one can actually have two different meanings, depending on the context. Usually, the phrase “bottom line” is used during negotiations, and it refers to the least amount of something (money or another benefit) that a negotiator is willing to settle for. In other contexts, it can be a way of saying “in summary” or of showing that what the person is about to say is the most important aspect of their speech.
  • Brainstorm. When you “brainstorm,” it means that you’re thinking of as many possibilities or ideas as possible in a short amount of time. You can imagine yourself working your brain so hard it’s almost like a storm is going on up there. 
  • Network. In this case, “network” can have two meanings. As a noun, it refers to a group of different companies or organizations that work together toward a common goal. As a verb, it refers to the act of meeting new people in your field of work in order to advance by knowing people. 

Now you should be familiar with the most common business English expressions! To learn a few more idioms, study our vocabulary list on the Essential English Idioms That Will Make You Sounds Like a Native Speaker

2. Business Communication Phrases You Need 

A- Nailing a Job Interview

Job Interview

Before you can use the rest of the phrases in this article, you need to have a job! Here are some common business phrases in English that you can use during your job interview.

Greetings
“It’s nice to meet you. My name is ___.”
“I’m here to interview for the ___ position.”

Interview QuestionsInterview Answers
“What can you bring to the table?”
(How can you benefit the company?)

“What is your greatest strength/weakness?”
“I’m a skilled ___.”
“I’ve been (doing) ___ for ___.”
“I earned my diploma in ___.”
“I worked for ___ from ___ to ___, doing ___.”
“My greatest accomplishment was ___.”
“My greatest strength/weakness is ___.”

Asking Your Interviewer to Repeat a Question
“I’m sorry, I didn’t quite catch that.”
“I’m sorry, can you please repeat your question?”

Thanking Your Interviewer
“Thank you for your time and consideration.”
“Thank you for your time, it was nice meeting you.”

Here’s an example conversation using some of these phrases:

Greeting:

Mr. Thomas: “It’s nice to meet you. I’m Mr. Thomas.”
Kara: “It’s nice to meet you too. My name is Kara Smith.

Interview:

Mr. Thomas: “What can you bring to the table?”
Kara: “I’m a skilled technician. I worked at Google from 2012 to 2016, doing tech work.
“Mr. Thomas: “I see. What is your greatest weakness?”
Kara: “I’m sorry, can you please repeat the question?”
Mr. Thomas: “Of course. What is your greatest weakness?
Kara: “My greatest weakness is that I sometimes give up too easily.”

Thanking Your Interviewer:

Mr. Thomas: “Thank you for coming down to complete the interview. I’ll call you soon to let you know what we decide.”
Kara: “Thank you for your time and consideration. It was nice meeting you.”

B- Interacting with Your Coworkers

Coworkers Taking a Group Photo in the Workplace

In the workplace, you’ll most likely need to interact with your coworkers on a daily basis. In this section, we’ll cover some common English business phrases for different situations.

Introductions

“I would like to introduce myself.”You can say this to begin introducing yourself to your new coworkers.

“I’m ___ [first and last], and I’ll be working with you.”Next, you can say this. In the blank, you simply put your first and last name.
“I’m Mary Reynolds, and I’ll be working with you.”

“I would like to introduce ___.”You can say this when you’re introducing your coworkers to another person. For example, a new coworker who you’re training for the job. In the blank, just put their first and last name. 
“I would like to introduce Kyle Thomas.”

“This is ___, and he/she will be working on this project now.”In the blank, simply put the name of the new coworker you’re introducing. 
“This is Charlotte Reyes, and she will be working on this project now.”

Asking for Help

“Excuse me, can you help me with something?”The “excuse me” at the beginning is a polite way to get your coworker’s attention. Use this phrase to ask for help on a task.

“Hi Mr./Mrs. ___, I have a question about ___. Can you please help me?”Usually, you use “Mr.” or “Mrs.” in front of a person’s last name if they are superior to you in the workplace, especially your boss or supervisor. Some workplaces are less formal, though, and you can use the person’s first name in this case. 

In the first blank, put the person’s name or last name. In the second blank, say whatever it is you have a question about.
“Hi Mr. Washington, I have a question about the new computer software. Can you please help me?”

OR

“Hi Joseph, I have a question about this assignment. Can you please help me?”

“Hi ___, sorry to bother you. Can you please help me with ___?”This is very similar to the phrase above, though the wording is a bit different. “Sorry to bother you,” is a polite phrase that shows respect for the other person’s time. 

In the first blank, put the person’s name (or Mr./Mrs. with the last name). In the second blank, say whatever it is you need help with.
“Hi Elizabeth, sorry to bother you. Can you please help me with this phone call?”

Making Apologies

Woman Apologizing to a Coworker
“I apologize for ___.” “I apologize for,” is a formal and polite way of saying that you’re sorry for something.

In this apology phrase, say the thing you’re sorry for in the blank. Additionally, you can add an explanation afterwards to let the person know why or how it happened.
“I apologize for not finishing this assignment on time.”

“I apologize for the inconvenience. It won’t happen again.”When you “inconvenience” someone, it means that you did something that hindered progress or made life more difficult for the other person. 

For example, if you forgot to mail out some important letters for your company, you could tell this to your boss when they ask you about it. 

Saying that “it won’t happen again,” means that you’ll work harder in the future to do a better job. 

“___. I’m so sorry.”In this one, you simply state the thing that happened (or that you did), and then say that you’re sorry about it. 
I forgot the flash drive for the presentation. I’m so sorry.”

Giving Thanks

“Thank you for your help with ___.”If a coworker has helped you with something, it’s important to thank them for it. In the blank, simply say whatever it is they helped you with.
“Thank you for your help with that presentation.”

“I appreciate your ___.”In the United States, people love to hear that you appreciate them or something that they did. In this phrase, simply fill in the blank with what you appreciate your coworker for. 
“I appreciate your patience while I learn the systems here.”

OR

“I appreciate your help earlier.”

“Thank you for doing thorough work. You’ve exceeded my expectations.”This is something you might say to an employee who works under you or a new coworker. It lets them know that you recognize their hard work, and that you’re pleased with it. 

Making Complaints

You can really complain about anything, and there’s no specific format that’s used for complaints in the workplace. Here are a few examples of complaints you may hear from coworkers once you’ve gotten to know them more.

“I can’t believe we have to work overtime this week!”

OR

“I can’t believe I have to work on Christmas!”
Most employees don’t like being made to work overtime (or on weekends/holidays). Thus, many complaints you hear may have to do with this. 

When someone says “I can’t believe ___,” when complaining, it usually means that they think it’s unrealistic or unfair.

“The meeting this morning was so boring.”Business meetings are often considered boring, especially if nothing important was accomplished. This is a common complaint you’re likely to hear in the workplace.

“I just don’t have enough time to finish the project.”Deadlines can be stressful for many people. Sometimes, employees or coworkers  may feel like they weren’t given enough time to finish something, so this is another complaint you’ll probably hear sometimes.

    → Learn how to complain like a native English-speaker with our Making Complaints vocabulary list.

Arranging Social Activities

In the United States, it’s not uncommon for coworkers to spend time with each other outside of work. Here are a few business English small talk phrases you can use if you want to build a relationship with a coworker (or coworkers) outside the workplace. 

“Are you doing anything after work today?”This is an “opener” question. It’s something you ask a coworker before you suggest they do something with you. Usually, this would be asked near the end of the work day.

“What are your plans for this weekend?”This is another opener question, used much the same way as the first one. However, this one indicates that you would like to do something over the weekend (not after work that day).

“I’m going to ___ this weekend. Would you like to join me?”If your coworker doesn’t have any plans, you can ask them this question. In the blank, you can put an activity. 
“I’m going to see a movie this weekend. Would you like to join me?”

“We’re going for drinks after work today. Do you want to come with us?”A common after-work activity, especially on a Friday night, is to go get drinks (or food) somewhere as a group. You can use this phrase to ask someone if they would like to join the group that night.


Jobs

C- Sounding Smart in a Meeting

Here’s a list of business English phrases for meetings to help you express your opinion, make a suggestion, or even give someone an assignment. 

Giving Opinions

Giving your opinion is a cornerstone of productive communication in meetings. 

“I think that ___.”Saying “I think that ___,” is a polite way to begin stating your opinion on something. 
“I think that we should follow through with the new budget proposal.”

“It seems to me ___.”By saying “It seems to me ___,” you’re showing that you believe something to be true, but that you’re not assuming you’re correct. This is a polite way of stating your opinion without excluding the thoughts of others.
“It seems to me that we’re in agreement here.”

“This is only my opinion, but ___.”This phrase is similar to the one above, but is a little bit more humble-sounding. The word “only” indicates that you don’t think too highly of your opinion, and that you respect the opinions of others as well.
“This is only my opinion, but I’m not comfortable with that idea.”

“Based on the information, I think ____.”This is a good way to phrase your opinion in reference to what others have said already. It shows that you were paying attention to them, and that you’ve formed a conclusion with that info.  
“Based on the information, I think we should increase production.”

Making Suggestions

If your supervisor or one of your coworkers wants to hear your suggestions on something, you can use one of these phrases. Don’t be afraid to speak up! 

“It might be a good idea to ___.”Here, the phrase “it might be” makes your suggestion sound more humble. 
The phrase “a good idea” refers to a course of action that you think would be beneficial.
“It might be a good idea to decrease the quota for next month.”

“I recommend that we ___.”This phrase can be used the same way as the one above. However, this phrase also shows a greater degree of certainty and confidence. 
“I recommend that we make the workspace more open.”

“Maybe we should ___.”This is a good phrase to use if you want to introduce a new idea and add to the conversation, but you’re not very confident in your suggestion. It gives your boss and coworkers an idea to think about, and add onto.
“Maybe we should discuss this next Monday.”

“The company may benefit from ___.”If you’re discussing how to improve a certain aspect of your company, this is a useful phrase to start with. 
“The company may benefit from closing one of our locations.”

Agreeing or Disagreeing

It’s completely normal to sometimes disagree with someone during a meeting. To express your agreement or concern, you can use these phrases.

“I concur with ___.”“Concur” is a more formal word for “agree.” In most business settings, you can use either word. 

In the blank, you can either the name of the person you agree with, or the idea that you agree with. 
“I concur with Olivia.”

OR

“I concur with that idea.”

“I think that’s a good idea.”This is a simple phrase you can use to show support for a coworker’s idea or proposal.

“You have a good point, but ___.”This is a polite way of slightly disagreeing with someone. It shows that you approve of most of what they said, but you think they missed something or gave bad information somewhere. 
Coworker: “The company may benefit from closing one of our locations.”

You: “You have a good point, but I think that’s a bit extreme under the circumstances.”

“You have a good point. I completely agree.”If you completely agree with what someone said, you can voice your support with this phrase.

“I’m sorry, but I don’t agree with you.”If you really don’t agree with what someone said, you can use this phrase. Saying “I’m sorry, but,” at the beginning makes it sound a little more polite.

In a business meeting, it’s usually important to back up what you’re saying with more information, or to explain your reasoning. This is often done with the word “because.” Here’s an example:

“I think that’s a good idea, because it will help the team work more effectively.”

Making Negotiations

Three Businessmen Making Negotiations

Negotiating can be a stressful procedure, but with these useful phrases, you can feel a lot more confident in your abilities! 

“If we can’t ___, then maybe we can ___ instead.”This phrase is useful for suggesting a compromise or alternative. 

In the first blank, put a certain course of action (that you can’t do). In the second blank, put a course of action that you can do instead.
“If we can’t increase the budget, then maybe we can lower costs instead.”

“If we ___, then they get ___ and we get ___.”This phrase is useful for talking about what will happen if a certain course of action is taken. 

In the first blank, put the course of action. In the second blank, put what the other party (such as another company) will get as a result. In the third blank, put what your company will get as a result.
“If we share our resources, then they get more manpower (employees) and we get more supplies.”

“It’s a win-win situation.”As mentioned earlier, a win-win situation is where both parties can benefit from a decision.

The last example we looked at is a great example of a win-win situation because both sides get something good.

“Can we talk about / explore alternatives?”If the conversation doesn’t seem to be going your way, you can use this phrase. When you say this, it means that you want to talk with the other party about how you could do something differently, or make a better plan.

Giving Presentations

Have you been asked to present in front of your supervisor or clients? Here are a few useful business English phrases for presentations.

“Let me introduce myself. My name is ___, and I work for ___.”When you’re giving a presentation, especially in front of people who don’t really know you, it’s standard to introduce yourself. This is a great phrase you can use to do so.
“Let me introduce myself. My name is Lily Godfrey, and I work for Super Great Company Name.”

“I would like to start by saying ___.”Having a short intro line can help you ease into the rest of your presentation. This is one way you can do this.
“I would like to start by saying that I’m honored to be here.”

“The first point I would like to address is ___.”When beginning your presentation, this is a handy phrase you can use.
“The first point I would like to address is the recent budget cuts.”

“Does anyone have a question or concern so far?”After you’ve covered one or two points, you may want to ask your audience if they have questions or concerns. This helps ensure that everyone is on the same page.

“Thank you for your time, I would like to conclude here.”At the end of a presentation, it’s polite to thank your audience for their time, and to let them know you’re done speaking.

Reporting to Supervisors

Sometimes, supervisors expect for you to give them updates on your progress during a meeting.

“I would like to update you on ___.”
“I would like to update you on our progress with the new marketing campaign.”

“I wanted to let you know about ___.”
“I wanted to let you know about a new software problem we’re facing.”

Giving Assignments

If you’re in a position to do so, you can give tasks and assignments to other people in the meeting. 

“___, can you please ___?”You can use this phrase to ask a specific person to accomplish a specific task. Note the use of the word “please,” here. 

In the first blank, say the person’s name. In the second blank, simply say the task you want that person to complete. 
Susan, can you please start on those reports?”

“I’ll leave you in charge of ___.”This phrase is similar to the one above, but it’s a bit more firm. When someone is “in charge of” something, it means that they are responsible for getting that thing done.
“I’ll leave you in charge of sending out the emails.”

“Can you please have this done by ___?”Use this phrase to give someone a deadline for a task. 
“Can you please have this done by next Friday?”

Business Phrases

D- Handling Business Phone Calls and Emails

A Young Businessman Taking Notes During a Phone Call

In many workplaces, answering the phone, taking messages, and responding to emails is a regular part of day-to-day work. Here are some useful business phone etiquette phrases and a few phrases for work-related emails.

Answering a Work Phone

“Hello, you’re speaking with ___. How may I help you?”When you answer the phone, it’s common to say “hello,” followed by information about who they’re talking to. Then, ask why they’re calling or how you can help them. 

Depending on where you work, there may be different rules for how to answer the phone. Some companies prefer that you give the caller your first name, while others prefer that you call yourself a representative of the company. 
“Hello, you’re speaking with Robert. How may I help you?”

OR

“Hello, you’re speaking with a [company name] representative. How may I help you?”

“Hello, this is ___ from ___. May I ask your reason for calling today?”Another common way to answer the phone is by saying your name and the company you work for. 
“Hello, this is Tiffany from [company name]. May I ask your reason for calling today?”

Taking Messages

“I’m sorry, ___ isn’t here. Can I take a message?”If the person the caller wants to speak with isn’t available, you can use this phrase. 

When you “take a message,” it means that you relay  what the caller says to the unavailable person. 
“I’m sorry, Mr. Locke isn’t here. Can I take a message?”

“Thank you. ___ will contact you shortly.”You can say this phrase after the caller has given you a message for the unavailable person (in this case, Mr. Locke). 
“Thank you. Mr. Locke will contact you shortly.”

“Could you please repeat that / speak more slowly?”It can be difficult to understand people over the phone. If you need the caller to repeat something, you can use this phrase.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t catch that, could you please repeat?”You can use this phrase exactly the same way as the one above.

Putting Someone on Hold

Depending on where you work, it may be common practice to put people on hold for short periods of time while you gather info for them. Here are some useful phrases:

“I’m sorry, but may I put you on hold for just a second?”You can use this phrase before putting someone on hold. Make sure that the other person is okay with being put on hold, first, though (otherwise, you may seem rude). 

“I’m going to put you on hold for a minute. I’ll get back to you quickly.”This phrase is almost the same as the one above, but is more of a statement than a question.

“Hello, I’m back. Are you still there?”When you take the person off hold, you can use this phrase to make sure they didn’t hang up. 

Ending Conversations

Depending on the type of phone call, there are a few different ways you can politely end the discussion.

“Thank you for your time. Have a nice afternoon.”This is a fairly generic phrase that you can use to end most phone conversations. 

“Thank you for reaching out. We will see you then.”This one is used mainly after someone has made an appointment (such as a dentist appointment or an appointment to have their car repaired).

“Thank you for your call. We hope we answered your questions.”You can end a call with this phrase if the caller asked you questions about something, and you were able to help them.”

Addressing / Greeting in Emails

An Upclose Image of a White Keyboard

As time goes on, emails are becoming more and more important in the workplace. Here are some examples of how you can address a business-related email:

“Mr./Mrs. ___,”Using “Mr.” or “Mrs.” followed by the person’s last name is a formal and polite way of beginning a business email. 
“Mr. Harrison,”

“___,”In slightly less formal instances, you can simply use the person’s first name followed by a comma.
Carol,”

“Hi ___,” If you’re sending an email to a coworker you’re familiar with, or if your company has a more laid-back policy for emails, you can say “Hi,” followed by the person’s name. 
“Hi Rene,”

“This email is for ___.”If you’re sending a formal email, especially if it contains important or sensitive information, you can say “This email is for,” followed by the person’s first and last name. In some situations, you can also put a more generic term in the blank, like in the second example (if you’re sending a mass email).
“This email is for Loletta Roberts.”

OR

“This email is for the new IT crew members at [company name].”

Wrapping Up an Email

“Thank you for your time.”If you sent a long email, it may be a good idea to thank the reader for their time. 

“You can contact me (or ___) with any questions.”It’s common to include a line like this one near the end of your email. It lets the reader know that they can contact you if something wasn’t clear. You can also opt to include your email address or phone number here. 

“Best / Sincerely ___.”At the very end of your email, you sign off. Two of the most common signing off words are “Best” and “Sincerely.” Put a comma after the word you choose, hit the enter key once, and then put your first and last name. 
“Sincerely,Timothy Gourd

E- Going on a Business Trip

Business trips can be great fun, but they also require a new set of vocabulary and phrases in some cases. Be prepared with the phrases below.

Airplane Taking Off

Booking a Hotel or Buying Tickets

“I have a reservation.”When you arrive at your hotel, you can tell the person at the check-in desk that you have a reservation. (If the check-in person asks you if you have one, you can simply add “Yes” to the beginning of this phrase.)

“I would like a room.”If you haven’t made a reservation, you can tell the hotel staff that you would like a room. 

“A return ticket to ___, please.”If you need to buy a ticket for travel, it’s best to ask for a “return ticket.” This means that your ticket will allow you to go to your destination and return.
In the blank, just say the place you want to go.
“A return ticket to Chicago, please.”

    → To prepare for your hotel stay, study our vocabulary list At a Hotel.

Sharing Itinerary with Coworkers

An “itinerary,” is basically an outline or summary of what to expect during your trip. The actual content can vary, but it will usually contain information about the business side itself, as well as non-work activities the group may participate in.

“Have you all checked your itinerary?”You can use this phrase to ask if the group has checked their itinerary. An “itinerary” is basically a schedule or overall plan of what will be achieved during the business trip (usually printed out). 

“On ___, we’re going to ___.”You can use this phrase to discuss certain details about the itinerary. 
“On Tuesday, we’re going to meet with our new clients.”

“We all need to be back here by ___.”This is a useful phrase if you’re on a tight schedule. It lets the other group members know what time you need to be back together (usually referring to the hotel or another important place).
“We all need to be back here by nine-thirty.”

“Tonight, we’ll eat at ___.”If your business trip is very schedule-oriented, your group may end up eating at specific places for the duration of the trip. This is a phrase you can use to talk about meal plans.
“Tonight, we’ll eat at the Chinese restaurant across the street.”

Meeting Partners or Clients

“It’s good to finally meet with you.”It’s considered polite and respectful to let the other person (or people) know that you’re glad to be meeting them.

“I’m so glad you could make it here safely.”Using this phrase shows that you care about the other person’s safety, and is a sign of respect.

“I hope you had pleasant / safe travels.”This phrase is similar to the one above, but is generally used only if you know the other person traveled a long distance or in hazardous conditions.

Checking In or Out of Hotel

“I’m almost ready to check out.”If it’s your final day at the hotel, you can let the person at the desk know that you’re almost ready to check out. This isn’t mandatory, but is considered polite. 

“I’m ready to check out now.”Once you’re packed and ready to leave, you can say this to the person at the desk to let them know.

“Thank you for the room. Here is my key.”When checking out of a hotel, it’s a good idea to let the person know that your room was nice and you enjoyed your stay. 

Thanking Partners or Clients

“Thank you for meeting with me/us.”It’s polite to let your partners or clients know that you appreciate their effort to meet with you.

“Thank you for your time.”Further, you can use this phrase to let them know you value their time, and appreciate that they spent it with you and your team. 

“It was a pleasure meeting with you.”This is a good parting phrase, and it shows that you enjoyed meeting and talking with them. 

3. Final Thoughts

Coworkers Celebrating with Champagne

We covered a lot of material in this article, but trust us when we say your career in the United States will be better for it. Once you cut through the red tape of language barriers, you’ll be glad you went the extra mile in your English studies. 

If you’re running out of steam and need some inspiration, EnglishClass101.com has you covered:

Before you go, let us know in the comments how you feel about English business phrases now. Are you ready to put them into action? Are there any phrases or situations we missed? We look forward to hearing from you, and will do our best to help you out. 

Happy English learning!

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