Learn English Phrasal Verbs:Work
These verbs show up in everyday job talk: meetings that get cancelled, offers you accept or refuse, and work you still need to finish.
Not sure when the object goes in the middle? Read separable and inseparable phrasal verbs.
call off
cancel
They had to call off the meeting when half the team was out sick.
They had to cancel the meeting when half the team was out sick.
Call off means cancel outright. Put off means move to a later date.
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put off
postpone
We’ll need to put off the presentation.
We’ll need to postpone the presentation.
Postpone, not cancel. Put it off until Friday.
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turn down
reject
They had to turn down the job offer because the pay was too low.
They had to reject the job offer because the pay was too low.
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take up
accept
I decided to take up their offer to join the product team.
I decided to accept their offer to join the product team.
Take up an offer means accept it. Take up a hobby means start it.
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show up
arrive
Only six people showed up for the 8 a.m. standup.
Only six people arrived for the 8 a.m. standup.
Informal for arrive. In a meeting invite it simply means be there.
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take over
gain control of
A larger firm plans to take over the smaller competitor.
A larger firm plans to gain control of the smaller competitor.
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lay off
dismiss staff for lack of work
The factory laid off fifty workers after the contract ended.
The factory dismissed fifty workers for lack of work after the contract ended.
Dismissing staff because there is less work. Not the same as firing someone for misconduct.
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come up with
imagine or suggest an idea
We need to come up with a cheaper way to ship the orders.
We need to think of a cheaper way to ship the orders.
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catch up on
finish work you missed earlier
I need to catch up on emails after two days of meetings.
I need to get up to date with emails after two days of meetings.
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wind up
finish
Let’s wind up the meeting by listing the next steps.
Let’s finish the meeting by listing the next steps.
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work up
gather
He finally worked up the courage to ask for a raise.
He finally gathered the courage to ask for a raise.
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mess up
spoil something
One wrong number in the spreadsheet messed up the whole budget.
One wrong number in the spreadsheet ruined the whole budget.
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put up with
accept something unpleasant
I can put up with long hours if the project has a clear end date.
I can tolerate long hours if the project has a clear end date.
Three-word and inseparable. Put up with it, never put it up with.
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All 13 work phrasal verbs at a glance
Separable means the object can sit in the middle, and a pronoun has to. Inseparable means it never can. No object means the verb does not take one. Full explanation here.
| Phrasal verb | Meaning | Grammar |
|---|---|---|
| call off | cancel | Separable |
| put off | postpone | Separable |
| turn down | reject | Separable |
| take up | accept | Separable |
| show up | arrive | No object, informal |
| take over | gain control of | Separable |
| lay off | dismiss staff for lack of work | Separable |
| come up with | imagine or suggest an idea | Inseparable |
| catch up on | finish work you missed earlier | Inseparable |
| wind up | finish | Separable |
| work up | gather | Separable |
| mess up | spoil something | Separable, informal |
| put up with | accept something unpleasant | Inseparable |
About this set
Use them in emails and standups, not only in formal writing.
A few are strong workplace words. Lay off and take over both carry weight, so the examples keep them in a company context.
Usage notes
- put off. Separable. Put the meeting off until Friday or put it off. It means postpone, not cancel.
- call off. Separable. Call off the meeting means cancel it, not move it.
- put up with. Three-word and inseparable. You put up with long hours; you cannot put long hours up with.
- show up. Informal for arrive. In a meeting invite, show up just means be there.
- lay off. Used for dismissing staff, often because there is less work. It is not the same as fire for misconduct.
Mistakes to avoid
Incorrect: The match was put off, so it will not happen at all.
Correct: The match was called off, so it will not happen at all.
Put off moves something to a later date. Cancelling outright is call off.
Incorrect: I cannot put it up with any longer.
Correct: I cannot put up with it any longer.
Put up with carries two particles, so nothing goes between them, pronouns included.
Incorrect: They laid off him last month.
Correct: They laid him off last month.
Lay off is separable, and a pronoun object cannot follow the particle.
Incorrect: She took over of the team in March.
Correct: She took over the team in March.
Take over needs no preposition before its object.
Common questions
Should I say put off or call off if a meeting moves?
Put off means postpone to a later time. Call off means cancel. If the meeting is still happening next week, put it off. If it is not happening at all, call it off.
What does take up mean with a job offer?
In this set, take up an offer means accept it. Elsewhere take up can mean start a hobby. The object tells you which meaning you want: take up their offer versus take up yoga.