Speak like a Pro! 25 MUST KNOW Professional English Phrases

Hello, my amazing students.

Today you're going to learn 25 professional  phrases to help you speak like a pro.

Welcome back to JForrest English.

Of course.

I'm Jennifer.

Now let's get started.

Our first phrase.

I'm on board with that.

This is used when you agree or you want to  express your support for a suggestion or an idea.

For example, we're on board.

We are the verb to be.

We're on board with that preposition.

With We're on board with the new  strategy for increasing sales,  

and don't forget to conjugate that verb to  be with your subject and time reference.

I'm on board.

Next.

Are we on the same page?

This is used to confirm that everyone has  the same understanding, opinion or viewpoint.

After our discussion, it seems  like we're on the same page.

We all have the same opinion,  understanding or viewpoint and  

to specify what that something is, you can say.

Regarding regarding the project timeline,  

don't worry about taking notes because I  summarize everything in a free lesson PDF.

You can find the link in the description.

Next it's a win win situation.

This is a situation where all parties benefit.

All parties win.

I could say subscribing to J.

Force English is a win win situation.

I win by growing my YouTube channel and you win  

by getting all of these free video  lessons to help you become fluent.

So put, win, win win win, put  win win in the comments below.

It's a win win.

Our next phrase I could ask  what are your thoughts on this?

This is used to request  someone's opinion or feedback.

You can identify something specific and say what  are your thoughts on the new marketing strategy.

Remember, you can replace the noun, the new  marketing strategy with this if it's obvious.

Next, we need to think outside the box.

Have you heard this one?

To think outside the box.

This is to encourage creative  thinking, innovative thinking.

If you're trying to solve a difficult problem,  

you might say thinking outside the box  is the only way we'll solve this problem.

You need innovative, creative solutions.

Everybody start thinking outside the box next.

I love this one.

Let's circle back to that later.

When you circle back to something,  

it means you stop discussing it now and  you suggest that you discuss it later.

So you postpone your discussion until later.

You could say we only have 10 minutes  left, so let's circle back to this.

Whatever.

This is your discussion  about the marketing campaign.

Thinking outside the box, Let's  circle back to this later.

Let's postpone it now and discuss it later.

Notice the grammar.

This is in the imperative.

It's often the case because we use  this as an instruction or a suggestion.

Let's circle back to Dina, our next phrase.

We need to prioritize our tasks.

If you prioritize something, it means you  organize it based on importance and urgency.

So the most important or the most urgent at the  

top of your list of to do's because it's  prioritized, it's the most important.

This is a common situation.

We don't have enough time to complete  everything, so let's prioritize our tasks.

I love this one.

Please keep me in the loop.

Do you know this one?

Native speakers love using it.

This is used to request that information  or updates be shared as they happen.

I could say I'm taking tomorrow off, but  please keep me in the loop on the project.

Notice grammatically this  is the imperative because  

I'm giving you an instruction or a suggestion.

You can add please at the beginning or the  end of the imperative to sound more polite.

Well, good, keep me in the loop on that.

Next, have they ironed out the details.

This is used to ask if something  has been resolved or clarified.

For example, we need to iron out  the contract details before the  

meeting and notice that pronunciation in the past.

Simple ironed out, ironed out, ironed out.

Phrase 10.

I'm all ears.

This is used to express your  openness and willingness to listen.

I could say if you have any suggestions for  improving this YouTube channel, I'm all ears.

I'm open and willing to  listen to your suggestions.

And that is 100% true.

So please share your suggestions in the comments.

I'm all ears.

Next, let's take a step back.

This is when you pause to  review a situation or decision.

Our marketing campaign didn't work.

Let's take a step back.

Let's pause what we're doing,  

working on the marketing campaign to review  it to make sure it is the right strategy.

Let's take a step back.

Notice this is also in the imperative  for instructions or suggestions.

This is a great one.

I beg to differ.

I beg to differ.

Use this when you disagree with  someone's opinion or statement.

Your coworker could say the  marketing campaign didn't  

work because we didn't think outside the box.

You could say I beg to differ,  which means I don't agree.

I beg to differ.

The campaign was great.

It was our execution that failed.

I beg to differ.

Next, I'll cut to the chase.

This is when you say your main point directly,  without small talk, without additional details.

For example, I'll cut to the chase.

You're not getting the promotion.

Notice grammatically the  expression is in the future.

Simple.

I will cut to the chase.

I'll cut to the chase.

Even though the information you're  delivering is now, I'll cut to the chase.

You're not getting the promotion.

This is a great one.

Run it by the team first.

This is when you share ideas  for feedback and approval.

I think it's a great idea, but  you should run it by Frank.

First.

You should share it with Frank  to get his feedback and approval.

And why should you do that?

Because our next phrase, Frank calls the shots.

This is to say that someone is in charge.

They have the authority to make decisions.

You should run your idea by  Frank because he calls the shots.

Notice it's the shots.

It's always plural.

I called it shots.

Our next phrase, the balls in Franks Court.

This is used to say it's someone else's  responsibility to make a decision.

In this case Frank.

Maybe you're talking to your  coworkers and someone asks you,  

should we hire Jennifer as our English teacher?

And you don't want to make that  decision So you can say the balls  

in your court to give responsibility  for that decision to someone else.

Remember to conjugate the verb to be  because it's the ball is the balls.

The ball is in your court,  the balls in your court.

Next we need to nip this in the bud.

This is an important one  because it's when you stop  

a problem at the early stages before  it becomes permanent or more serious.

Let's say you have a new policy for a dress code,  

but none of the new employees  are following the dress code.

So that's the problem and you  wanna stop it in the early stages.

You wanna nip it in the bud.

Grammatically, the verb is nip, and to  conjugate it, it's nip nipped nipped.

You need to nip this in the bud.

This is a great one.

It's not my cup of tea.

Do you know this one?

This is used to say that you dislike something.

Public speaking is not my cup of tea,  but it's essential for my career.

And remember, there are two correct contractions.

It isn't.

It's not.

You can use either one.

They hammered out the agreement.

This is used to say that something  is finalized as a question.

Have you hammered out the terms yet?

This is commonly used with  agreements, proposals and contracts.

Phrase 20.

We're swamped right now, Doctor Kettner.

We're swamped.

This is to say, you're really busy.

We've been swamped since Vanessa quit.

The expression is too be swamped.

So your verb is to be and then  swamped is always in the Ed form.

Next we'll take that into consideration.

This is to say you'll consider something.

You'll consider someones feedback,  suggestion, advice, recommendation.

Now because I'm all ears, you  shared a suggestion with me.

You said Jennifer, I think you should  upload videos three times per day.

I could say thanks for your suggestion.

I'll take that into consideration.

Next, we need to think long term.

This is used to emphasize the  

importance of considering future  implications and considerations.

I could say publishing videos three  times per day would help my students,  

but I need to think long term.

Is that sustainable?

For me, all become very swamped very quickly.

Next.

Sorry, I'm tied up.

This means you're busy and therefore unavailable.

You could say I wish I could  help you, but I'm tied up.

I'm already busy with something  else and therefore unavailable.

Now you can specify the something  and use the preposition with.

I'm tied up with the budget phrase 24.

Let's put our heads together.

This is used to suggest the need  for collaboration, brainstorming,  

or more than one opinion because  the opinion is in your head and  

if you put heads together, then  you have more than one opinion.

If we put our heads together, I  know we can nip this in the bud.

And finally, phrase 25 to play Devil's Ave.

kit.

This is when you consider opposing  viewpoints when making a decision.

I could say I think 3 videos per day is too much  for me to handle, so let's play devil's advocate.

So now I'm going to think about publishing 3  

videos per day and think about what that  would take, what my day would be like,  

just to see if it's possible and  that will help me make my decision.

Now you have 25 new phrases  to help you speak like a pro.

Do you want me to teach you more phrases?

If you do, then put more phrases, more  phrases, more phrases in the comments below.

And of course, make sure you like  this video, share with your friends  

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And you can get this free speaking  guide where I share 6 tips on how  

to speak English fluently and confidently.

You can click here to download it or  look for the link in the description.

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