Work and business contexts use many specific phrasal verbs. 'Take on' (accept new work or staff). 'Lay off' (dismiss staff because of business reasons). 'Follow up' (continue with action after first contact). 'Set up' (start, establish). 'Carry out' (perform, execute). 'Step down' (resign from a position). 'Take over' (take control). 'Cut back' (reduce). 'Bring in' (introduce, hire). 'Branch out' (expand into new areas). Each is fixed and used the same way. The lesson is topic-based — grouping phrasal verbs around the workplace theme. Some have appeared in earlier lessons (take on in lesson #39, take over also in #39) but here they are grouped by topic for work-specific use. Students who plan to work in English-speaking contexts or international roles need these chunks. Connects to work and business expressions (#89), email expressions (#49), negotiation (#99). Together they cover the main professional-language toolkit.
Before you start — think honestly about your own teaching and experience.
Look at the examples. Answer each question before reading the explanation — this is how your students will learn too.
take on (= accept new staff or work — see lesson #39)
The school is taking on three new teachers next term.
bring in (= introduce, hire from outside)
They brought in a consultant to help with the project.
lay off (= dismiss staff because of business reasons — usually not for poor performance)
The company laid off 50 workers due to falling sales.
step down (= resign from a leadership position)
The CEO is stepping down at the end of the year.
take over (= take control of — see lesson #39)
When the manager retires, his deputy will take over.
What staffing situations do these cover?
These five phrasal verbs cover the main staffing situations in business. 'Take on' is hiring or accepting work — positive growth. 'Bring in' is hiring with a specific purpose, often outside expertise. 'Lay off' is dismissing for business reasons (not poor performance — that would be 'fire' or 'sack'). 'Step down' is voluntary resignation from leadership. 'Take over' is succession to leadership. Each describes a specific staffing event. Students who know these chunks describe staffing changes naturally. Students who use formal alternatives (employ, dismiss, succeed) sound stilted. The phrasal verbs are standard in business news, work conversations, and professional writing. Save formal verbs for formal academic contexts.
set up (= start, establish, organise)
We set up a new committee to address the issue.
She set up her own business last year.
carry out (= perform, execute, do)
The team carried out the research over six months.
We will carry out the plan next quarter.
follow up (= continue with action after first contact)
I will follow up with the client tomorrow about the proposal.
run by (= explain to someone for opinion)
Let me run this idea by the team before deciding.
brainstorm (not phrasal but related — think of ideas)
Let's brainstorm some solutions.
What is the difference between 'set up' and 'carry out'?
'Set up' is about starting something — establishing a system, organising a process, founding a company. 'I set up a new filing system' (started a new system). 'She set up her own business' (founded). 'Carry out' is about performing — doing the work that has been set up. 'I carried out the research' (did the research). 'We carried out the plan' (executed the plan). Set up comes first; carry out comes second. Set up establishes; carry out performs. 'We set up the project and then carried out the work over six months.' These two phrasal verbs cover the start and execution of work. 'Follow up' is about continuing — making sure something happens after the first action. 'I will follow up with the client' (continue contact). All three are essential for project management discussion.
cut back (= reduce — usually for economic reasons)
We need to cut back on expenses this quarter.
The company cut back on marketing.
scale back (= reduce — formal alternative to cut back)
They scaled back the project due to budget cuts.
phase out (= gradually stop or remove)
The company is phasing out the old products.
branch out (= expand into new areas)
The shop is branching out into online sales.
Why do students need these phrasal verbs for work changes?
Business changes — both reductions and expansions — use specific phrasal verbs. 'Cut back' and 'scale back' both mean reduce. Cut back is everyday; scale back is slightly more formal. Both common in business contexts. 'Phase out' is gradual removal — products, programmes, processes. 'The company is phasing out the old system over six months.' 'Branch out' is the opposite of cut back — expanding into new areas. 'The bakery is branching out into catering.' These four phrasal verbs cover business change — both negative (cuts, phase outs) and positive (branching out). Students who plan to work in business contexts need these chunks. They appear constantly in business news and corporate communications. The pattern: cut back / scale back (reduce), phase out (gradually remove), branch out (expand). Each describes a specific kind of business change.
| Phrasal verb | Meaning | Example | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| take on | Accept new staff or work | The school is taking on new teachers. | Positive — growth or new responsibility. |
| lay off | Dismiss staff for business reasons | The company laid off 50 workers. | Different from 'fire' (poor performance). Lay off is business reasons. |
| step down | Resign from a leadership position | The CEO is stepping down. | Voluntary resignation from leadership. |
| take over | Take control of | His deputy will take over. | For succession or new leadership. |
| set up | Start, establish, organise | We set up a new committee. | For starting projects or systems. |
| carry out | Perform, execute, do | The team carried out the research. | For doing the work that has been set up. |
| follow up | Continue action after first contact | I will follow up with the client tomorrow. | Common in business communication. |
| run by | Explain to someone for opinion | Let me run this by the team. | For getting feedback before deciding. |
| cut back / scale back | Reduce | We need to cut back on expenses. | For economic reductions. |
| phase out | Gradually stop or remove | They are phasing out the old system. | For gradual removal. |
| branch out | Expand into new areas | The shop is branching out into catering. | For business expansion. |
| bring in | Introduce, hire from outside | They brought in a consultant. | For specific outside expertise. |
NOTE 1 — Match phrasal verb to work situation: Hiring → take on, bring in. Dismissing → lay off (for business reasons). Resignation → step down. Succession → take over. Starting projects → set up. Doing work → carry out. Continuing action → follow up. Reducing → cut back, scale back. Expanding → branch out.
NOTE 2 — Lay off vs fire: Lay off is dismissal for business reasons (cuts, restructuring) — not the worker's fault. Fire (or sack — British informal) is dismissal for poor performance or wrongdoing. Different reasons. The terms are not interchangeable.
NOTE 3 — Set up + carry out work together: Set up establishes the project. Carry out performs the work. They form a sequence — first set up, then carry out. Useful pair for project management language.
NOTE 4 — Follow up is essential: 'Follow up' is one of the most common phrasal verbs in business email and meetings. 'I will follow up with you tomorrow.' 'Follow up on the proposal.' Students should master this chunk.
NOTE 5 — Match register: Most work phrasal verbs are casual to neutral business English. They work in meetings, emails, business news. They rarely fit very formal academic writing. For formal academic contexts, formal alternatives may be preferred (employ, dismiss, conduct, implement).
Work phrasal verbs are essential for any student in professional contexts. They appear constantly in business news, work conversations, professional emails, business meetings. Students who know them communicate naturally in workplaces. Students who use formal alternatives (employ, dismiss, conduct, implement) for everyday work talk sound stilted. The phrasal verbs are standard. Save formal verbs for academic writing or very formal documents.
Use real or imagined work scenarios for practice. A company hiring new staff (take on, bring in). A company restructuring (lay off, cut back). A new project (set up, carry out). A leadership change (step down, take over). Real scenarios make the chunks memorable and show how they cluster around situations.
Choose the correct work phrasal verb for each business situation.
Each sentence has a problem with a work phrasal verb. Suggest a better version and explain.
Use this sequence directly in class — guided discovery, no textbook needed. Tap each step to mark it done.
STEP 1 — Topic-based phrasal verbs (5 min): Establish that this lesson groups phrasal verbs around the work theme. Topic-based grouping is useful for professional contexts. The lesson covers the main work-specific phrasal verbs.
STEP 2 — Staffing phrasal verbs (8 min): Drill the staffing chunks. Take on (accept new). Bring in (hire from outside). Lay off (business reasons). Step down (resign from leadership). Take over (succeed to leadership). Match each to a context. Practise five examples.
STEP 3 — Project phrasal verbs (6 min): Drill the project chunks. Set up (start, establish). Carry out (perform). Follow up (continue action). Run by (get opinion). Show how set up and carry out work as a sequence.
STEP 4 — Change phrasal verbs (6 min): Drill the change chunks. Cut back / scale back (reduce). Phase out (gradually remove). Branch out (expand). Match each to a context — economic cuts, gradual removal, expansion.
STEP 5 — Match phrasal verb to situation (5 min): Give six business situations. Hiring new teachers (take on). Reducing staff for business reasons (lay off). CEO leaving (step down). New leader assuming control (take over). Continuing client contact (follow up). Reducing expenses (cut back). Discuss as a class.
Use directly in class — copy, adapt, or read aloud. No printing needed.
For each strategy, choose the option that best describes where you are now.
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