Lesser-Known Phrasal Verbs for Problem-Solving At Work

1. Iron out ​​​​​👌​

Meaning: Resolve small differences or difficulties, especially in planning or negotiation.
Example: The teams met to iron out the remaining issues before signing the contract.
Context: Used in business meetings, negotiations, or project coordination.

2. Root out 🫜

Meaning: Identify and eliminate the source of a problem.
Example: The IT department is trying to root out the cause of the network failure.
Context: Problem-solving that involves analysis or investigation.

3. Think through 🤔

Meaning: Consider something carefully before making a decision.
Example: We need to think through the potential risks before launching the product.
Context: Strategic planning or decision-making.

4. Talk over ​​🗣️​

Meaning: Discuss something thoroughly to reach a decision or solution.
Example: Let’s talk it over with the client before finalizing the proposal.
Context: Collaborative problem-solving and decision-making.

5. Narrow down ​​​➖​

Meaning: Reduce the number of possibilities or options.
Example: We’ve narrowed down the list of suppliers to three candidates.
Context: Analytical thinking and decision-making stages.

6. Pin down ​​​​📍​

Meaning: Identify or define something precisely; get a clear commitment.
Example: It’s difficult to pin down the exact reason for the delay.
Context: Investigating unclear causes or finalizing details.

To finish, let’s see them all working together in context ​​​​​​👇​

Before finalizing the project plan, the management team decided to talk over 🗣️​the feedback from various departments to ensure everyone was aligned. They then narrowed down➖​ the main challenges to a few key issues and began to think through 🤔 possible solutions. During the discussion, they managed to pin down 📍​the cause of several delays and agreed to iron out 👌​the smaller misunderstandings between teams. Finally, the technical group took responsibility to root out 🫜 the recurring software bugs before the official launch.

Mastering phrasal verbs like iron out, root out, and think through can make your communication in the workplace sound more fluent, precise, and professional.

🧠 And now try a short quiz ​​​​​​​❓​

Instructions: Choose the correct phrasal verb (iron out, root out, think through, talk over, narrow down, pin down) to complete each sentence.

1. Before making a final decision, it’s important to __________ all the possible risks and outcomes.

2. The HR team met to __________ the remaining details of the new company policy.

3. We need to __________ the list of candidates to just three people for the next round of interviews.

4. The managers decided to __________ the issue with the client to find a mutually acceptable solution.

5. It took several hours to __________ the exact cause of the production delay.

6. The new security system was designed to __________ any potential data breaches.

💡 Answers:

1️⃣think through

2️⃣iron out

3️⃣narrow down

4️⃣talk over

5️⃣pin down

6️⃣root out

How did you do?

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