10 British English Expressions You’ll Hear at Work
Starting a new job, working with British colleagues, or simply communicating in an English-speaking workplace can sometimes feel like learning a completely different language.
You might understand every word someone says, but still wonder:
What does “I’ll get back to you” actually mean?
Why does everyone keep saying “touch base”?
What does it mean if someone says they’re “tied up”?
British workplaces are full of useful expressions like these. Some are informal, some are more professional, and some are simply phrases you’ll hear regularly in everyday office conversations.
Here are 10 expressions worth knowing if you work in the UK.
1. “I’ll get back to you.”
Meaning: I’ll contact you again later, usually when I have more information.
I’m not sure about the delivery date, but I’ll get back to you tomorrow.
Useful alternative: I’ll let you know.
2. “Let’s touch base.”
Meaning: Let’s speak briefly to discuss something or check progress.
Let’s touch base next week and see how the project is going.
This is particularly common in professional settings.
Note: You don’t need to use it all the time! Let’s speak next week or Let’s have a quick chat can sound more natural in many situations.
3. “I’m tied up.”
Meaning: I’m very busy and don’t have time at the moment.
I’m tied up with meetings this afternoon. Could we speak tomorrow?
You could also say:
I’m quite busy at the moment.
I’m tied up until 3pm.
4. “Keep me posted.”
Meaning: Keep me informed about what is happening.
Keep me posted about the client meeting.
It’s a useful phrase when you’re waiting for an update.
Similar expression:
“Keep me in the loop.”
Can you keep me in the loop about any changes?
5. “I’ll look into it.”
Meaning: I’ll investigate or find out more information.
I’m not sure why the payment hasn’t gone through, but I’ll look into it.
This is particularly useful when responding to a problem or question.
6. “We’re running behind.”
Meaning: We’re later than planned.
We’re running behind, so the meeting might start ten minutes late.
You can also say:
We’re running behind schedule.
And in British English, you’ll often hear:
Sorry, I’m running a bit late.
7. “It’s up to you.”
Meaning: You can make the decision.
We could have the meeting on Tuesday or Wednesday. It’s up to you.
Be careful with your tone, though. Depending on the situation, “It’s up to you” can sound friendly or slightly dismissive.
8. “I’ll take a look.”
Meaning: I’ll examine or check something.
Thanks for sending the report. I’ll take a look this afternoon.
It’s a very natural alternative to the more formal:
I will review the document.
9. “Do you have a minute?”
Meaning: Can I speak to you briefly?
Do you have a minute? I wanted to ask you about the presentation.
Despite the phrase “a minute”, the conversation doesn’t necessarily have to last exactly one minute!
A slightly more specific version is:
Do you have five minutes?
10. “Let’s leave it there.”
Meaning: Let’s stop discussing this for now.
I think we’ve covered everything we need to. Let’s leave it there.
It can be useful at the end of a meeting or discussion.
British English vs American English
It’s also worth remembering that some workplace expressions differ between British and American English.
For example:
holiday vs. vacation
CV vs. resume
bank holiday vs. public holiday
annual leave vs. vacation time / PTO
If you’re working in the UK, becoming familiar with British vocabulary can make everyday communication much easier.
Mini Practice: Use the Expressions
Imagine you’re working in a London office.
Complete the conversations:
1.
Colleague: Do you know when the new website will be ready?
You: I’m not sure, but __________.
2.
Colleague: Can you tell me what happened with the client?
You: I’m not sure. I’ll __________.
3.
Colleague: When should we have our next meeting?
You: Either Tuesday or Wednesday is fine. __________.
4.
Colleague: How’s the project going?
You: We’re __________, so we might need another couple of days.
Answers:
- I’ll get back to you.
- look into it.
- It’s up to you.
- running behind.
Don’t Try to Sound “Too British”
One final tip: you don’t need to use lots of British expressions to sound professional in English.
The most important thing is to communicate clearly and confidently.
Learn expressions because they help you understand your colleagues, not because you need to use every phrase yourself.
In fact, some expressions such as “touch base” can sound quite corporate if you use them too often!
The best approach is to listen to how your colleagues speak and gradually add useful expressions to your own English.
Challenge
Choose three expressions from this article and try to use them in a real conversation or email this week.
Which ones would you use most often?
