English Business Meeting Phrases

Level: B2. Meetings in English run on a small set of fixed, polite phrases: ways to open, hand someone the floor, give an opinion, disagree without a fight, interrupt gently, and close with clear next steps. The skill is tone — business English softens almost everything, so a flat No, you’re wrong lands badly where I’m not sure I agree keeps the room with you. Each phrase below is tagged for register. For the fuller skills, see At the Office, Expressing Opinions and Giving a Presentation.

By the end of this page you can…

…open and chair a short meeting, give and defend an opinion, agree and disagree politely, interrupt without seeming rude, and close with clear action points.

Opening and setting the agenda

Start on time and say what the meeting is for. These phrases take control of the room gently.

Giving opinions and handing over

Say what you think, then invite others. Hedging words (I think, perhaps) keep it collaborative.

Agreeing, disagreeing and interrupting

This is where tone matters most. Acknowledge before you push back.

Checking, clarifying and closing

Make sure everyone understood, then end with who does what.

Example phrases to say aloud

Play each line and copy the calm, measured delivery business meetings expect.

A short conversation

Chair: Right, shall we get started? Thanks for coming. The main thing to decide today is the launch date. Dev: In my view, we should push it back two weeks — the testing isn’t finished. Sales: I see your point, but the client is expecting it this month. Chair: That’s fair. Can I just suggest a compromise — a soft launch to a small group first? Dev: I’d be happy with that. Chair: Good. So, to sum up: soft launch next week, full launch in three. I’ll circulate the action points.

Common mistakes

• ❌ No, you are wrong. → ✅ I see your point, but… (Acknowledge before you push back.)
• ❌ I am agree. → ✅ I agree. / That’s a good point. (Agree is a verb; no am.)
• ❌ Explain better. → ✅ Could you clarify what you mean? (The soft form sounds professional.)
• ❌ Shut up, my turn. → ✅ Sorry to jump in, but… (Signal your interruption politely.)
• ❌ We finished. (to close) → ✅ Let’s wrap up there. I’ll circulate the action points. (Close with next steps.)

Usage notes

• Hedging is the house style: probably, perhaps, it might be worth make proposals sound open, not pushy. See cautious language and hedging.
• Signposting: words like so, right, moving on, to sum up steer the meeting. The discourse markers lesson covers these.
• Suggestions: Shall we…?, Let’s…, Why don’t we…? all propose action. See making suggestions with let’s.
• Register: meetings are usually neutral-to-formal; keep slang out, but you need not be stiff — That’s a good point is warm and professional.
• BrE vs AmE: British Shall we…? is common for proposals; American speakers more often say Should we…? or Let’s….

Practice

Recap cheat-sheet

Quick recap before the quiz.

Quiz

Next

• Learn the setting: English: At the Office
• Related lessons: Expressing Opinions · Giving a Presentation
• Previous phrase set: English Phone & Call Phrases
• More phrases: the English phrases hub
• New here? Start with Start Learning English Here