10 Phrases for Meetings in English You Can Use Today

Why learn set phrases for meetings?

In a meeting there is little time to think. People are waiting, and the topic moves quickly. Ready-made phrases help because the same situations come back again and again: opening the meeting, asking someone to repeat, disagreeing politely, moving to a new item and closing the discussion. This article gives ten useful phrases at B1 level. Each one has a meaning, two example sentences and a short usage note. Read the examples aloud, then change the words so they fit your own job.

Phrases for starting and understanding

1. Let’s get started

Meaning: let’s begin. Use it when people have arrived and you want to open the meeting.

• Good morning, everyone. Let’s get started.
• We have only thirty minutes, so let’s get started.

Usage note: it is friendly and fairly informal, and it works in most workplaces. In a very formal meeting you can say: Shall we begin?

2. Could you repeat that, please?

Meaning: please say it again. Use it when you did not hear or did not understand.

• Sorry, the line is bad. Could you repeat that, please?
• Could you repeat the last number, please?

Usage note: a common mistake is Repeat again. The verb repeat already means say again, so do not add again. Could you and please make the request polite.

3. Could you clarify what you mean by…?

Meaning: please explain this idea more clearly. Use it when you heard the words but the idea is still unclear.

• Could you clarify what you mean by a flexible deadline?
• Could you clarify what you mean by phase two?

Usage note: after by, use a noun or a noun phrase, such as a flexible deadline. It is more polite than the short question What do you mean?

Phrases for adding and disagreeing politely

4. Can I add something here?

Meaning: may I say something extra? Use it to join the conversation without a rude interruption.

• Can I add something here? Our customers asked for this last month.
• Sorry to interrupt. Can I add something here?

Usage note: I want to add on its own can sound sharp. A slightly more formal choice is: May I add something?

5. I see your point, but…

Meaning: I understand your idea, but I have a different view. Use it to disagree without sounding unfriendly.

• I see your point, but I think the plan is too expensive.
• I see your point, but we don’t have enough time.

Usage note: first accept the idea, then give your opinion. Do not say I am not agree. The correct forms are I don’t agree and I’m not sure I agree, because agree is a verb, not an adjective.

Phrases for managing the agenda

6. Let’s move on to the next item

Meaning: let’s go to the next topic. Use it when one point is finished and you want to follow the agenda.

• If there are no more questions, let’s move on to the next item.
• We can talk about this later. Let’s move on to the next item.

Usage note: the person leading the meeting usually says this. The pattern is move on to plus a noun, for example: move on to the budget.

7. Let’s go back to…

Meaning: let’s return to an earlier point.

• Let’s go back to the schedule for a moment.
• Before we finish, let’s go back to Sara’s question.

Usage note: you can also say Going back to the budget… and both are natural. After go back to, use a noun or a topic.

8. To sum up,…

Meaning: in short. Use it to give a short summary of the main points.

• To sum up, we agreed to start the project in March and share the report on Friday.
• To sum up, we need more time and a bigger team.

Usage note: put a comma after the phrase and then a full sentence. Keep the summary short: two or three sentences are enough.

Phrases for tasks and closing

9. Who is going to take care of this?

Meaning: who will be responsible for this task? Use it to give a job to someone.

• We need a new design. Who is going to take care of this?
• I can take care of the invitations. Who is going to take care of the food?

Usage note: here take care of means deal with or be responsible for, not only look after. You can also answer with: I’ll take care of it.

10. Let’s schedule a follow-up meeting

Meaning: let’s arrange another meeting to check progress. Use it at the end when things need a later review.

• We still have two open questions, so let’s schedule a follow-up meeting.
• Let’s schedule a follow-up meeting for next week.

Usage note: follow-up is an adjective before the noun meeting. In British English people sometimes say arrange instead of schedule, and the meaning is very close.

Common mistakes Arabic speakers make

Some mistakes come from translating an Arabic sentence word for word. This table shows the most common ones.

How to sound polite with short sentences

In English, politeness often comes from the form of the sentence, not its length. Use Could you or Can I for requests, and add please when it helps. When you disagree, start with what you accept and then say but. Avoid hard statements such as You are wrong. Also practise your voice: let it rise a little in questions, and speak slowly when you say numbers and names. A good meeting does not need difficult vocabulary. It needs clear phrases at the right moment.

Steps to practise the ten phrases

1. Read the ten phrases aloud three times.
2. Write one example for each phrase about your own work.
3. Choose only three phrases for this week’s meeting. Do not try to use all ten.
4. Record yourself saying Let’s get started and To sum up, then listen for clear sounds.
5. After the meeting, write down one new phrase you heard and add it to your list.

Quick review

To start: Let’s get started. To understand: Could you repeat that, please? and Could you clarify what you mean by…? To join in and disagree: Can I add something here? and I see your point, but… To manage time: Let’s move on to the next item, Let’s go back to… and To sum up,… To finish: Who is going to take care of this? and Let’s schedule a follow-up meeting. Start with two or three, then add the rest over time.