Essential Phrases You Will Regret Not Knowing 👇

Intermediate Level | July 13, 2025

✨ 혼자서 기사를 소리 내어 읽거나 튜터를 따라 각 단락을 반복해서 읽으세요. 레벨...

Do you ever feel stuck during conversations because you’re not sure what to say next? You’re not alone. Many English learners know a lot of vocabulary—but still struggle in real conversations. Why? Because they haven’t learned the essential phrases you will regret not knowing that help you connect, sound natural, and keep conversations flowing.

In this article, you’ll discover 10 powerful phrases that busy professionals use every day. These are essential phrases you will regret not knowing—because they can change how confident and fluent you sound at work and in social situations.

Let’s learn them now, one phrase at a time.

What Makes a Phrase “Essential”?

Essential phrases do two things:

They help conversations flow naturally, and
They make you sound more fluent and confident.

These aren’t fancy expressions. In fact, they’re often simple—but powerful. You’ll hear them in meetings, emails, video calls, and small talk.

The good news? You can start using them today.

10 Essential Phrases You’ll Wish You Knew Sooner

“That makes sense.”
Use this when you agree or understand someone’s explanation.
Example: “Oh, that makes sense now. Thanks for clarifying.”
“I see what you mean.”
A great phrase to show empathy and understanding.
Example: “I see what you mean about the timeline being tight.”
“Just to clarify…”
Use this when you want to double-check information.
Example: “Just to clarify, the deadline is next Friday, right?”
“I’d like to add something.”
A polite way to join a conversation or meeting.
Example: “I’d like to add something to what Mark just said.”
“Could you walk me through that?”
Ask this when you need a step-by-step explanation.
Example: “Could you walk me through the new login process?”
“That’s a good point.”
Use this to agree and keep the conversation respectful.
Example: “That’s a good point about customer feedback.”
“Let’s circle back to this.”
A professional way to pause a topic and return to it later.
Example: “Let’s circle back to this after we finish the main agenda.”
“I’m not quite sure I follow.”
Use this when something isn’t clear—without sounding rude.
Example: “I’m not quite sure I follow—can you explain that part again?”
“That’s exactly what I was thinking.”
A phrase to show agreement and alignment.
Example: “That’s exactly what I was thinking—we should move forward.”
“Thanks for bringing that up.”
Use this to show appreciation for a helpful comment or question.
Example: “Thanks for bringing that up—it’s something we need to address.”

Why These Phrases Matter for Professionals

These essential phrases you will regret not knowing build connection and clarity. They make your conversations feel more collaborative, respectful, and efficient—especially in fast-moving work environments.

If you’ve ever sat quietly in a meeting because you weren’t sure what to say—these phrases are your key to speaking up confidently.

How to Practice Them Daily

Read them out loud—slowly and clearly.
Use them in real conversations or email replies.
Write your own examples related to your work.
Try using at least one in your next meeting or chat.

Vocabulary List

Clarify (verb) — to make something clear or easier to understand.
Example: I asked her to clarify the next step.
Phrase (noun) — a group of words that have a specific meaning.
Example: “That makes sense” is a useful phrase in meetings.
Walk through (phrasal verb) — to explain something step by step.
Example: He walked me through the report process.
Follow (verb) — to understand or track what someone is saying.
Example: I didn’t follow the second part of the plan.
Circle back (phrasal verb) — to return to a topic later.
Example: Let’s circle back to that issue tomorrow.
Point (noun) — an idea or argument in a conversation.
Example: That’s a strong point about customer needs.
Alignment (noun) — agreement or shared understanding.
Example: We need better alignment between teams.
Appreciation (noun) — showing thanks or recognition.
Example: I want to show appreciation for your help.
Professional (adjective) — related to business or work.
Example: Her tone was very professional during the call.
Empathy (noun) — understanding and sharing someone else’s feelings.
Example: His response showed empathy for the client’s concerns.

5 Questions About the Article

Why are these phrases called “essential”?
What does the phrase “Let’s circle back to this” mean?
How can these phrases help in meetings?
What should you do if you don’t understand something?
Why is it important to practice phrases out loud?

5 Open-Ended Discussion Questions

Which of these phrases do you already use?
Which one will be most useful for your job?
Can you think of a time when one of these would’ve helped you?
What phrase do you hear often at your workplace?
How can you make learning new phrases part of your daily routine?

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