In the fast-paced world of international business, keeping a meeting on track is a vital skill. One of the most common phrases you will hear in boardrooms from New York to London is: “Let’s circle back.” In this Phrase File, we’ll break down exactly what this idiom means, why it’s a powerful tool for your professional vocabulary, and how to use it without sounding dismissive.
What Does “Circle Back” Mean?
Imagine a discussion as a path. To “circle back” means that you will stay focused on your original route for the time being and make your way back to a particular point once you’ve reached your initial goal. If a colleague brings up a topic that isn’t on the current agenda, you are “leaving the path.” By saying you will circle back, you are promising to complete the loop and return to that topic at a more appropriate time or once you have more information. It’s like a side quest of sorts.
The “Side Quest” Analogy: How to Stay on Mission
Imagine you are playing an Open World RPG (Role-Playing Game). You have a main quest: Defeat the Budget Proposal by 5:00 PM. While you are walking toward the goal, an NPC (Non-Player Character)—let’s call him “Accountant Dave”—pops up and offers you a side quest: “Help me find the missing receipts from the 2023 Holiday Party.” If you stop to help Dave now, you’ll never finish your Main Quest before the server shuts down (or the meeting ends).
“Let’s circle back” is how you manage your Quest Log:
- The Main Quest: The current meeting agenda.
- The Side Quest: A topic that is interesting but not the priority right now.
- “Circle Back”: This is your way of telling the team, “I’m adding that to my Quest Log, but I’m not changing my active mission yet.”
By “circling back,” you aren’t ignoring the side quest; you are simply prioritizing your XP gains so you can finish the level on time. The best time to use this phrase is when a discussion is getting too detailed for the current group, when a topic is distracting from the main goal of the meeting, or when you need more data before you can give a proper answer.
Watch Phrase File Episode 1: Reel & Transcript
Hey there, business English learners! Welcome to another Phrase File. Today’s phrase is a classic for keeping meetings moving: ‘Let’s circle back.’
What does it mean? Simple: ‘Let’s talk about that topic later.’ You use it when a discussion is getting too detailed, too distracting, or if you need more information first.
For example, someone asks about the budget for next year, but you’re discussing the current quarter. You say: “That’s a great question, but let’s circle back to the budget in our next meeting.”
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More Real World Examples
To help you master this phrase, let’s look at three different professional scenarios:
1. In a Budget Meeting (Redirecting)
Colleague: “Do we have the final numbers for the Q4 marketing spend next year?”
You: “That’s a great question, but let’s circle back to the 2026 budget in our next meeting. Today, we need to stay focused on the current quarter.”
2. In a Brainstorming Session (Gathering Info)
Manager: “How much will the new software integration cost?”
You: “I don’t have the exact quote from the vendor yet. Can we circle back to this on Thursday once I’ve heard from them?”
3. In an Email (Following Up)
“Hi Sarah, thanks for your input on the branding project. I’d like to circle back to your suggestions after the client has reviewed the initial mockups.”
Synonyms: Other Ways to Say “Let’s Circle Back”
Variety is key to sounding fluent. Depending on the level of formality, you might also use:
- Table it: “Let’s table that for now.” (Common in US English).
- Take it offline: “Let’s take that conversation offline.” (Used when a topic only concerns two people in a larger meeting).
- Revisit: “We can revisit this point once we have the data.”
Quick Quiz: Test Your Knowledge
Your Turn!
The best way to learn Business English is to use it. Leave a comment below with a sentence using “circle back” in a work context, and I will give you feedback on your usage!
