Introduction 💼
In the corporate world, meetings have their own special language. For English learners, mastering these expressions can help you communicate professionally and confidently. Let’s explore common phrases used in business meetings!
Basic Meeting Vocabulary 📊
Meeting Types
- briefing / debrief
- kickoff meeting
- status update
- brainstorming session
- all-hands meeting
- quarterly review
- one-on-one
Key Meeting Roles
- chairperson / facilitator
- presenter
- attendee / participant
- minute-taker
- stakeholder
Essential Meeting Actions
- schedule / reschedule
- postpone / cancel
- adjourn / wrap up
- take minutes
- follow up
- delegate tasks
Common Meeting Phrases 🗣️
Starting a Meeting
Example 1: “Let’s get started.”
“Thank you all for joining today.”
During Discussion
Example 2: “Could you elaborate on that point?”
“Let me chime in with my thoughts.”
Ending a Meeting
Example 3: “Let’s wrap this up.”
“To summarize our action items…”
Meeting Conversation Examples 💭
Opening a Meeting
A: “Shall we get the ball rolling?”
B: “Yes, let’s start with the first agenda item.”
Discussion Time
A: “I’d like to circle back to what Sarah mentioned earlier.”
B: “Good point. Let’s dive deeper into that.”
A: “Could we table this for now and revisit it next week?”
Grammar Points 📝
Using Modal Verbs in Meetings
-
Could + verb (polite requests) Example: “Could we move on to the next topic?”
-
Should + verb (suggestions) Example: “Should we schedule a follow-up?”
-
Would + verb (polite proposals) Example: “Would it be possible to share the slides?”
Common Mistakes ❌
Incorrect: “Let’s discussing this point.” Correct: “Let’s discuss this point.”
Incorrect: “I am agree with that.” Correct: “I agree with that.”
Professional Phrases 🎯
Contributing to Discussion
- “If I may add…”
- “Building on that point…”
- “From my perspective…”
Managing Time
- “In interest of time…”
- “Let’s keep things moving…”
- “We’re running short on time…”
Business Idioms 💡
Meeting-Related Idioms
- “Get down to brass tacks”
- “Put it on the back burner”
- “Touch base”
- “Get everyone on the same page”
- “Think outside the box”
Virtual Meeting Expressions 💻
Tech-Related Phrases
- “Can everyone see my screen?”
- “You’re on mute”
- “Let me share my window”
- “The connection seems unstable”
Polite Interruptions 🤝
Interrupting Professionally
- “Sorry to interrupt, but…”
- “If I could just jump in here…”
- “Pardon the interruption…”
Making Suggestions 💭
Offering Ideas
- “What if we tried…”
- “Have we considered…”
- “It might be worth exploring…”
Summary ✨
Key Points to Remember
- Use appropriate level of formality
- Master transition phrases
- Practice polite interruptions
- Learn common business idioms
Remember to adjust your language based on the meeting’s formality level. Practice these phrases to boost your confidence in business meetings!