Level: C2 | Topic: Phrasal Verbs for Meetings
At C2 level, phrasal verbs are used with precision to convey strategic nuance. Here are 8 highly advanced phrasal verbs found in board-level and executive business meetings — covering market analysis, risk, strategy, and negotiation.
| Phrasal Verb | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| bottom out | to reach the lowest point before recovering | Analysts believe costs have bottomed out and will now stabilise. |
| cash in on | to exploit an opportunity or situation for personal or financial gain | The company is looking to cash in on the growing demand. |
| hinge on | to depend entirely on one critical factor | The success of the merger hinges on regulatory approval. |
| paper over | to conceal a problem or disagreement superficially without resolving it | We cannot afford to paper over the divisions within the team. |
| play down | to deliberately make something seem less important than it is | The CEO tried to play down the severity of the financial loss. |
| ride out | to endure a difficult period and emerge successfully | We are confident we can ride out the current market instability. |
| square away | to deal with something completely so that it is resolved | Let's square away the contractual details before the client arrives. |
| underpin | to support or form the basis of something | Sound data should underpin every strategic recommendation we make. |
Read each sentence. Is it true or false?
1. To paper over a problem means to resolve it permanently.
2. To hinge on something means to depend entirely on it.
3. To play down an issue means to emphasise its importance.
4. To bottom out means to reach the lowest point before recovering.
5. To ride out a crisis means to endure it and survive.
6. To cash in on an opportunity means to exploit it for gain.
7. To underpin a strategy means to undermine it.
8. To square away an issue means to resolve it completely.
1. The board cannot continue to _____ these deep structural problems.
2. Everything _____ whether the regulator approves the deal next month.
3. She attempted to _____ the scale of the projected losses.
4. Market data suggests that inflation has finally _____.
5. Several competitors are already trying to _____ the shift in consumer behaviour.
6. We believe the business is well positioned to _____ this period of volatility.
7. Please _____ the licensing agreements before the partnership goes live.
8. Every proposal must be _____ by rigorous independent research.
Click a phrasal verb then click its matching meaning.
1. Economists predict that the market will __ by the end of Q2.
2. Solid evidence should __ every claim we make to the board.
3. The spokesperson tried to __ the reputational damage.
4. The chair warned the team not to __ the divisions in the group.
5. Rivals are already trying to __ the disruption caused by the merger.
6. We need to __ the IP agreements before the launch.
7. The leadership team is confident it can __ the regulatory challenge.
8. The whole agreement __ the outcome of next week's vote.
Click the words to build the correct sentence.
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Click a phrasal verb, then click the correct column.
Fill in the missing phrasal verbs.