Phrasal Verbs with Get in Business English
If you're learning Business English, you've probably noticed that some verbs appear in many different contexts, taking on different meanings. One of the most versatile verbs in English is get. It forms dozens of phrasal verbs and expressions that are used every day in professional communication.
Most learners first come across get meaning "receive," but in Business English it has many more uses. Get into, get through, get back, get away, get round to, get over, and get on with are all common expressions you'll hear in meetings, negotiations, presentations, and business emails. The meaning of get changes depending on the preposition or particle following it, so these phrasal verbs are best learned as complete expressions rather than translated word for word.
Let's look at some of the most useful ones and see how they're used in real business situations.
1. Get into – start doing something
This expression is commonly used when talking about a new business, profession, or field of work.
Examples:
- I'd like to get into digital marketing.
- She's thinking about getting into consulting.
- We want to get into the European market.
2. Get over – overcome
Used when talking about overcoming a problem, fear, setback, or crisis. It's especially useful in business discussions.
Examples:
- The company managed to get over the financial crisis.
- We need to get over these technical problems.
- It took us several months to get over the delays.
3. Get away with – avoid negative consequences
This means avoiding punishment or negative consequences after doing something wrong. It's often used when discussing management or corporate culture.
Examples:
- Some companies get away with poor customer service.
- You can't get away with missing deadlines forever.
4. Get back – get something back
In business, this usually refers to money, documents, or a response.
Examples:
- We finally got our investment back.
- Did you get your money back?
- I'll get back to you tomorrow.
The phrase I'll get back to you is one of the most common expressions in business communication. It means I'll contact you later.
5. Get on with – get along well with
Good relationships are essential in international teams. This expression is frequently used in job interviews and workplace conversations.
Examples:
- I get on well with my manager.
- Do you get on with your colleagues?
- They don't really get on with each other.
6. Get round to – finally find time to do something
This means to finally do something you've been meaning to do for a long time. It's a very common expression in the workplace.
Examples:
- I still haven't got round to answering those emails.
- I'll get round to updating the report this afternoon.
- We never got round to discussing the budget.
7. Get through – successfully get through something
This phrasal verb has several meanings, but in business it most often means:
- get through a difficult period;
- deal with a heavy workload;
- successfully complete a process.
Examples:
- We got through the audit.
- We need to get through this busy week.
- The team got through the presentation successfully.
There's also the expression get through to somebody, which means to reach someone by phone or to get your message across.
8. Get away – go away for a break
Business English isn't only about work – people also talk about holidays and time off. In a work context, this usually refers to taking a short holiday or a weekend break.
Examples:
- I'm hoping to get away for a few days.
- Did you manage to get away this summer?
NB! Don't confuse it with get away with.
9. Get on – make good progress
Used when talking about the progress of a project or a business.
Examples:
- How is the new project getting on?
- The business is getting on well.
10. Get together – meet up
This expression is commonly used when colleagues arrange to meet and discuss work-related matters.
Examples:
- Let's get together next week.
- We should get together and discuss the proposal.
How can you remember phrasal verbs?
The most effective way is to learn them as complete expressions, make up your own examples, use them in conversation, and practise them in different situations. For example, instead of memorising get back on its own, learn common phrases such as:
- I'll get back to you.
- We got our money back.
- When did you get back from London?
The more often you use these expressions, the more natural your English will sound. That's exactly what helps you communicate with greater confidence and professionalism.
At Bubbles English Center, our Business English courses focus not only on grammar but also on the most common vocabulary used by native speakers, including phrasal verbs. Mastering them will help you understand authentic English more easily and make your own speech sound more natural and confident.
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