back out (of sth)
Core idea: decide not to do something you agreed to do; withdraw from an agreement or commitment.
Intransitive + prep
Use: contracts / agreements
Pattern: back out of + agreement
Examples + explanations
- The investor backed out of the deal at the last minute.
Withdrew from the agreement just before finalizing.
- We can't back out now; we've already signed the contract.
Too late to withdraw due to legal obligation.
- She backed out of the partnership because she didn't trust her business partner.
Decided not to proceed with the partnership agreement.
- They threatened to back out unless we lowered the price.
Used withdrawal as negotiation pressure.
Tip: Often has a negative connotation. Common in business negotiations. Usually followed by of + what you're withdrawing from.
bring out (sth)
Core idea: produce and start to sell a new product; launch something to the market.
Separable
Use: product launches / marketing
Pattern: bring out + product / bring + product + out
Examples + explanations
- Apple is bringing out a new iPhone model next month.
Launching/releasing a new product soon.
- The company brought out three new products this year to compete with rivals.
Launched products as a competitive strategy.
- We're planning to bring out an updated version with better features.
Preparing to release an improved product.
- The publisher brought out a special edition for the anniversary.
Released a commemorative version.
Can be used for any product type: physical goods, software, books, etc. Common alternative: launch.
close down / close down (sth)
Core idea: stop operating permanently (for companies); shut down a business.
Intransitive / Separable
Use: business closure
Pattern: close down / close + business + down
Examples + explanations
- The restaurant closed down after 20 years due to rising costs.
Permanently stopped operating because of high expenses.
- The government closed down the factory for violating safety regulations.
Authorities forced the factory to stop operating.
- Many small businesses closed down during the pandemic.
Permanently shut due to financial difficulties.
- They had to close down two branches to cut costs.
Shut locations as a cost-saving measure.
Refers to permanent closure, not temporary. Can be voluntary or forced. Often associated with financial problems.
see through (sth) / see through to
Core idea: continue (or help to continue) to the end of something unpleasant or difficult; persist until completion.
Separable
Use: project management / perseverance
Pattern: see + sth + through / see through + sth
Examples + explanations
- Despite the challenges, she saw the project through to completion.
Continued working until finished despite obstacles.
- We need to see this merger through, even though it's complicated.
Must complete the merger process despite complexity.
- The CEO saw the company through the financial crisis.
Helped the company survive the difficult period.
- I'll see you through this difficult transition period.
Support someone until the end of a challenge.
Emphasizes perseverance and commitment. Often used for difficult situations. Shows determination and responsibility.
see to (sth)
Core idea: deal with; take care of; handle or manage something.
Inseparable
Use: task management / responsibility
Pattern: see to + task / see to it that...
Examples + explanations
- I'll see to the client's complaint immediately.
Will handle and resolve the complaint.
- Can you see to the arrangements for tomorrow's meeting?
Request to take care of organizing meeting details.
- The manager saw to it that all employees received their bonuses on time.
Made sure bonuses were paid punctually.
- Who's going to see to the catering for the conference?
Who will handle/organize the food service?
Often used for tasks and responsibilities. Implies taking action. Common in workplace communication. Similar to: take care of, handle.
set to (doing sth)
Core idea: start doing something in a determined or enthusiastic way; begin working energetically.
Intransitive
Use: work execution / urgency
Pattern: set to / set to work / set to + -ing
Examples + explanations
- The team set to work on the new marketing campaign with great enthusiasm.
Began working energetically and enthusiastically.
- After the meeting, everyone set to organizing the event.
Immediately started working with determination.
- We need to set to if we want to finish this by the deadline.
Must start working determinedly to meet the deadline.
- The staff set to cleaning up after the conference.
Started cleaning energetically.
Emphasizes energy and determination. Often used when there's urgency. Suggests immediate, focused action.
set out (to do sth)
Core idea: start working on something in order to achieve an aim; begin with a specific goal or intention.
Intransitive + to-infinitive
Use: business planning / strategy
Pattern: set out to + verb
Examples + explanations
- We set out to increase sales by 30% this quarter.
Began working with the specific aim of 30% growth.
- She set out to build a successful startup from scratch.
Started the journey with the goal of creating a successful startup.
- The company set out to revolutionize the industry with innovative technology.
Started working with the ambitious goal of transforming the industry.
- When I set out to learn programming, I never imagined I'd become a developer.
Started with the intention of learning, achieved more.
Always followed by to + infinitive (goal). Emphasizes intention and purpose. Common in business planning and strategy discussions.
set up (sth)
Core idea: start (a business, organization, etc.); establish or create something new.
Separable
Use: entrepreneurship / establishment
Pattern: set up + business / set + business + up
Noun: setup / set-up
Examples + explanations
- They set up a consulting firm in London last year.
Established/founded a new consulting company.
- I'm planning to set up my own business after gaining more experience.
Intends to establish own company in the future.
- The company set up a new branch office in Singapore.
Established a new office location.
- We need to set up a meeting with the stakeholders.
Arrange/organize a meeting.
Very common in business contexts. Can refer to companies, offices, systems, meetings, or organizations. Often used in entrepreneurship discussions.
slow down / slow down (sth)
Core idea: decrease speed; reduce the pace or rate of work, production, or progress.
Intransitive / Separable
Use: production / workflow / strategy
Pattern: slow down / slow + sth + down
Examples + explanations
- Production slowed down during the holiday season.
Rate of production decreased during holidays.
- We need to slow down and focus on quality rather than quantity.
Should work at a slower pace for better quality.
- The economic crisis slowed down business growth significantly.
Crisis caused businesses to grow at a slower rate.
- Let's slow down the hiring process to ensure we find the right candidates.
Reduce the pace of recruitment for better results.
Can be literal (physical speed) or figurative (pace of work). Often used in production and project management. Can be intentional or unintentional.
speed up / speed up (sth)
Core idea: increase speed; accelerate the pace or rate of work, production, or progress.
Intransitive / Separable
Use: efficiency / productivity / deadlines
Pattern: speed up / speed + sth + up
Examples + explanations
- We need to speed up production to meet the deadline.
Production must happen faster to complete orders on time.
- The new software will speed up our workflow considerably.
Software will make work processes faster and more efficient.
- Can you speed up the approval process? The client is waiting.
Request to make approval happen faster due to client expectations.
- Automation has sped up our manufacturing process by 40%.
Technology increased production speed significantly.
Opposite of "slow down". Common in productivity and efficiency discussions. Often used when there's time pressure or deadlines.
stand in for (sb)
Core idea: do somebody's job for them while they are not available; temporarily replace someone.
Inseparable
Use: coverage / temporary replacement
Pattern: stand in for + person
Examples + explanations
- I'm standing in for the manager while she's on vacation.
Performing manager's duties during her absence.
- Can you stand in for me at tomorrow's meeting? I have a doctor's appointment.
Request for someone to attend and represent you.
- The assistant director stood in for the CEO during the conference.
Represented and performed CEO's role at the event.
- Who will stand in for Sarah while she's on maternity leave?
Who will temporarily replace Sarah?
Always temporary. Implies doing someone else's specific job. Common in workplace coverage situations. Similar to: cover for, substitute for.
take on (sb/sth)
Core ideas: A) start to employ someone; hire. B) accept work or responsibility.
Separable
Use: HR / recruitment / workload
Pattern: take on + person/work / take + person/work + on
Examples + explanations
- The company is taking on 50 new employees this month.
Employing/hiring 50 new workers.
- I can't take on any more projects right now; I'm too busy.
Cannot accept additional work due to current workload.
- She took on the responsibility of training new staff members.
Accepted/agreed to the responsibility of training.
- We're not taking on any interns this summer.
Not hiring interns this season.
Very common in HR and recruitment. Can refer to people, projects, or responsibilities. Often used when discussing capacity and workload.
take over (sth) / take over from (sb)
Core idea: take control of (a business, etc.); gain control, ownership, or assume a position.
Separable / Intransitive + from
Use: M&A / succession / leadership
Pattern: take over + business / take over from + person
Noun: takeover
Examples + explanations
- A multinational corporation took over the local company last year.
Large company bought and gained control of smaller company.
- I'll take over as project manager when Sarah leaves.
Will assume the project manager role after Sarah's departure.
- The new CEO took over during a difficult period for the company.
Assumed control/leadership during challenging times.
- Who will take over from you when you retire?
Who will assume your position after retirement?
Common in mergers and acquisitions. Can be hostile or friendly. Also used for position transitions and succession planning.
turn down (sth/sb)
Core idea: not accept (an offer, request, etc.); reject or refuse something.
Separable
Use: negotiations / decisions / offers
Pattern: turn down + offer / turn + offer + down
Examples + explanations
- She turned down the job offer because the salary was too low.
Refused/rejected the job due to inadequate compensation.
- The bank turned down our loan application.
Bank refused to approve the loan request.
- He turned down the promotion because it required relocating.
Rejected promotion offer due to relocation requirement.
- We had to turn down several candidates due to lack of experience.
Rejected applicants because they lacked qualifications.
Can be used for any type of offer or request. Implies a deliberate decision to refuse. Common in negotiations and decision-making. Similar to: reject, refuse, decline.
Putting it all together — a business journey map
- set up → establish a business
- set out to → begin with specific goals
- bring out → launch new products
- take on → hire employees / accept work
- stand in for → cover for absent colleagues
- see to → handle tasks and responsibilities
- set to → start working enthusiastically
- speed up / slow down → adjust pace of work
- see through → complete difficult projects
- take over → acquire companies / assume positions
- turn down → reject offers or requests
- back out → withdraw from agreements
- close down → shut down operations
Mini dialogues (natural and short)
A. Starting a business
A: When did you set up your company?
B: Last year. We set out to create eco-friendly packaging.
A: Great! Have you brought out any products yet?
B: Yes, we brought out our first line in March.
B. Hiring and workload
A: Are you taking on any new staff?
B: Not yet. I can't take on more projects until we hire someone.
A: Can Sarah stand in for you while you interview candidates?
B: Yes, she'll see to the urgent matters.
C. Business decisions
A: Did they accept our proposal?
B: No, they turned it down. Said it was too expensive.
A: Should we back out of the partnership then?
B: Let's see it through. We've invested too much already.
D. Company changes
A: I heard TechCorp took over your competitor.
B: Yes, and two local shops closed down last month.
A: The market is tough. We need to speed up our innovation.
E. Project management
A: The team needs to set to work immediately.
B: Agreed. But let's slow down and check the quality first.
A: Good idea. I'll see to the final review myself.
Quick form guide (separable? object?)
- back out (of) — intransitive + of; withdraw from agreement.
- bring out — separable; bring sth out / bring out sth.
- close down — intransitive / separable; permanent closure.
- see through — separable; see sth through / see through sth.
- see to — inseparable; see to sth / see to it that...
- set to — intransitive; set to (work) / set to + -ing.
- set out (to) — intransitive + to-infinitive; set out to + verb.
- set up — separable; set up sth / set sth up.
- slow down — intransitive / separable; reduce pace.
- speed up — intransitive / separable; increase pace.
- stand in for — inseparable; stand in for sb.
- take on — separable; take on sb/sth / take sb/sth on.
- take over — separable / intransitive + from; gain control.
- turn down — separable; turn down sth / turn sth down.
Micro-practice with reasons
- They set up a tech startup in 2020 and set out to disrupt the market. Establish → state goal.
- The company brought out five new products but had to slow down production due to supply issues. Launch → reduce pace.
- I can't take on more work, so could you stand in for me at the presentation? Accept work → temporary replacement.
- She turned down the job offer and decided to set up her own consultancy instead. Reject → establish.
- The manager will see to the client complaints and see the project through despite the delays. Handle → complete.
- After the merger, the new owners took over and closed down three unprofitable branches. Gain control → shut down.
- We need to speed up the approval process and set to work on implementation immediately. Increase pace → start enthusiastically.
- The investor backed out of the deal at the last minute, so we had to turn down the expansion opportunity. Withdraw → reject.
Key contrasts and pairs
- set up (establish) ↔ close down (shut permanently)
- take on (hire/accept) ↔ turn down (reject)
- speed up (accelerate) ↔ slow down (decelerate)
- set out to (begin with goal) → see through (complete despite difficulty)
- take over (gain control) vs. stand in for (temporary replacement)
- bring out (launch product) vs. set up (establish business)
- back out (withdraw) vs. see through (persist)
- see to (handle) vs. set to (start enthusiastically)
Teaching tip: Group verbs by business stage (startup → growth → challenges → closure), drill pronoun placement for separable verbs (bring it out / turn them down), and ask learners to write a mini business case study using at least ten of the verbs. Role-play negotiations where students must use turn down, back out, and take over naturally.
Practice exercises
Exercise 1: Fill in the blanks
- The company decided to _______ a new smartphone model next quarter. (bring out)
- I'm _______ my colleague while she's on maternity leave. (standing in for)
- They _______ of the business deal because of legal concerns. (backed out)
- We need to _______ production to meet the Christmas deadline. (speed up)
- She _______ the job offer because the salary was too low. (turned down)
- The CEO _______ the company _______ the financial crisis. (saw...through)
- They _______ 20 new employees last month. (took on)
- Who will _______ the catering arrangements? (see to)
Exercise 2: Correct or incorrect?
- ❌ We set up to expand internationally. → ✔ We set out to expand internationally.
- ❌ Can you stand in me at the meeting? → ✔ Can you stand in for me at the meeting?
- ❌ The factory closed up last year. → ✔ The factory closed down last year.
- ❌ They brought up a new product. → ✔ They brought out a new product.
- ✔ I can't take on any more projects. (Correct!)
- ❌ She backed out the agreement. → ✔ She backed out of the agreement.
Exercise 3: Real-world scenarios
Create sentences using these phrasal verbs for these situations:
- A startup founder establishing a company → "She set up a fintech startup in Berlin."
- An employee refusing a transfer → "He turned down the transfer to New York."
- A company buying a competitor → "The corporation took over three smaller rivals."
- A manager handling urgent tasks → "I'll see to the client complaints immediately."
- A business closing permanently → "The store closed down after 30 years."
