📩 Work Phrasal Verbs You NEED to Know!

Hey team! 👋

Today we’re diving into 10 phrasal verbs about work 💼 that’ll make your English sound way more natural. These are the ones native speakers use all the time in offices, shops, and even when they’re moaning about their boss 😂.

Let’s break ‘em down 👇

🔟 The Phrasal Verb Line-Up

1. Take on → hire new staff or accept responsibilities.
   “We’re taking on new people next month.”

2. Knuckle down → finally get serious about work.
   “I need to knuckle down and finish this report.”

3. Step down → resign or leave a position.
   “She stepped down as director last year.”

4. Fill in → do someone else’s job temporarily.
   “Can you fill in for me while I’m away?”

5. Lay off → let workers go (usually for financial reasons).
   “The company laid off 50 employees.”

6. Get ahead → progress in your career.
   “Networking can help you get ahead.”

7. Hand in → officially give something (a report, resignation, etc.).
   “He handed in his resignation.”

8. Move up → get promoted.
   “She moved up to team leader.”

9. Knock off → stop working.
   “We usually knock off at 5.”

10. Catch up → complete work you’re behind on.
    “I stayed late to catch up on emails.”

📖 Mini Story: The Office Shuffle

So picture this…

Lucy works at a marketing firm 🖥️. One day, the boss announces they’re going to take on some new staff to help with a big project. Everyone’s excited, but Lucy knows she needs to knuckle down if she wants to impress.

A week later, the department head decides to step down after 20 years 😮. Guess who has to fill in until they hire a replacement? Yep, Lucy.

But the company’s finances aren’t great, and they have to lay off three employees 😔. Lucy feels the pressure, but she keeps working hard to get ahead.

Finally, she hands in a killer proposal that wows the clients. A few months later, she moves up to project manager. 🎉

Her team usually knocks off at 5, but Lucy stays late to catch up on paperwork. She’s tired, but she knows all the effort is paying off.

Moral of the story? 👉 Hard work + the right phrasal verbs = SUCCESS 💪.

Gap-Fill (Phrasal Verbs)

Fill in the blanks with the phrasal verbs above:

1. He ………… from his position as manager.

2. The company had to ………… workers because of the crisis.

3. I need to ………… and finish this essay.

4. Can you ………… for me tomorrow while I’m away?

5. She ………… her resignation last week.

6. They’re ………… new staff for the summer season.

7. If you want to ………… in your career, you need to network.

8. We usually ………… at 6pm.

9. He worked extra hours to ………… on his tasks.

10. After a year, she ………… to a higher role.

✅ Phrasal Verbs Gap-Fill Answers

1. stepped down

2. laid off

3. knuckle down

4. fill in

5. handed in

6. taking on

7. get ahead

8. knock off

9. catch up

10. moved up

💬 Question for You

👉 Which of these phrasal verbs do you already use at work?
👉 And which one do you want to “knuckle down” and start using this week?

Hit reply and let me know — I’ll be cheering you on 🙌.

Have a great day!