Why phrasal verbs matter for TOEIC
If you’ve ever felt frustrated by English expressions like “carry out” or “set up,” you’re not alone. Phrasal verbs are everywhere in the TOEIC, especially in listening, reading, and speaking tasks. They make English more natural, but also more confusing for learners.
In this post, you’ll learn 25 essential phrasal verbs used in business contexts — the kind that actually show up on the TOEIC exam. We’ll give you examples, tips to remember them, and practice ideas to make them stick.
What is a phrasal verb?
A phrasal verb is a verb + particle (preposition or adverb) that changes the verb’s meaning.
Examples:
- “Take off” (remove) is very different from just “take.”
- “Put up with” means tolerate — not «put something up.»
The top 25 TOEIC phrasal verbs (with examples)
| Phrasal Verb | Meaning | Example Sentence |
|---|---|---|
| carry out | do, perform (a task) | We carried out a customer survey last month. |
| set up | establish, start | They set up a new office in Tokyo. |
| look into | investigate | The manager will look into the issue. |
| turn down | reject | He turned down the job offer. |
| bring up | mention, raise (a topic) | She brought up the budget problem in the meeting. |
| come up with | invent, suggest | Can you come up with a new slogan? |
| go over | review | Let’s go over the report again. |
| take over | assume control | A new CEO took over last year. |
| cut back on | reduce | We need to cut back on travel expenses. |
| fill out | complete (a form) | Please fill out this application. |
| find out | discover | I just found out we’re moving offices. |
| point out | highlight, indicate | He pointed out the mistake in the report. |
| run out of | use up completely | We ran out of printer ink. |
| deal with | manage, handle | I’ll deal with the complaint. |
| call off | cancel | They called off the meeting. |
| come across | find by chance | I came across your resume yesterday. |
| look after | take care of | Can you look after the interns? |
| keep up with | stay informed | It’s hard to keep up with all the emails. |
| hand in | submit | Please hand in your report by Friday. |
| hold on | wait | Hold on — I’ll transfer your call. |
| break down | stop working | The copier broke down again. |
| sign up for | register | I signed up for the training course. |
| take part in | participate | We took part in a global survey. |
| back up | support | He backed up my idea during the presentation. |
| work out | resolve, solve | We worked out the scheduling issue. |
How to learn phrasal verbs faster
Here’s a simple 5-step method to master them:
- Group them by topic: e.g. business actions, meetings, HR, finance.
- Use visuals: draw mini scenes or use flashcard apps.
- Make your own sentences using real work/study situations.
- Practice in context with TOEIC-style exercises or speaking.
- Review weekly and keep a “phrasal verb notebook.”
Common mistakes to avoid
| Mistake Type | Example Mistake | Correction |
|---|---|---|
| Wrong preposition | He looked up the issue. | He looked into the issue. |
| Literal meaning | Break down the door! | (intended meaning was “malfunction”) |
| Confusing with noun | A follow up is needed. | We need to follow up. (verb form) |
| Overusing “get” | Get the form done | Fill out the form is clearer |
Mini speaking & writing challenges
Try these for practice:
- 🗣️ Speaking: Describe a workplace issue using 3–4 phrasal verbs.
- ✍️ Writing: Write a short email using “set up,” “hand in,” and “follow up.”
- 🎧 Listening: Watch a business podcast or TED Talk — note 5 phrasal verbs used.
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FAQs
Q1: Do phrasal verbs appear in TOEIC Reading too?
Yes! Especially in short texts like emails or office memos.
Q2: Should I use phrasal verbs in TOEIC Speaking?
Absolutely — they make your speech sound more fluent and natural.
Q3: Are separable and inseparable phrasal verbs tested?
Yes, especially in grammar and sentence completion parts.