Remote Meetings: Phrases for Video Calls & Virtual Collaboration
5 exercises on essential video call phrases. Choose the most natural and professional option.
0 / 5 completed
1 / 5
A colleague starts speaking and nobody can hear them. You need to let them know quickly and politely. What do you say?
"You're on mute": This is the single most recognised phrase in remote work culture — short, unambiguous, and completely non-embarrassing. It names the problem and implies the fix without being condescending. Real examples: "Hey, you're on mute!" (informal daily standup); "Just to flag — you're on mute, could you unmute?" (client call). Option A is technically accurate but blunt and slightly accusatory. Option C is over-engineered for a simple fix — nobody wants a tutorial mid-meeting. Option D vaguely implies blame without giving actionable information. "You're on mute" is the universal shorthand; everyone knows exactly what to do.
2 / 5
You've just started sharing your screen during a demo. You want to confirm everyone can see it before continuing. What do you say?
"Can everyone see my screen?": Direct, inclusive, and the standard phrase in professional video calls. It invites a quick yes/no from the group and creates a natural pause before you proceed. Real examples: "Before I dive in — can everyone see my screen?"; "Can everyone see my screen? Give me a thumbs up if so." Option B is grammatically fine but feels overly formal and slightly awkward — nobody says "participants" in a casual standup. Option C is a reasonable workaround but slower; it adds a step and fragments attention. Option D is a statement, not a check — it doesn't invite confirmation, so you may spend five minutes demoing a blank screen. Option A is concise and universally understood.
3 / 5
You want to share a resource during a call without interrupting the presenter. How do you let the group know?
"I'll share the link in chat": Crisp, actionable, and the standard micro-phrase used during live calls. It signals what you're doing without making a production of it, letting the meeting flow. Real examples: "I'll share the link in chat — feel free to open it while we talk"; "One sec, I'll share the link in chat." Option A ("post the link") is also natural but slightly wordier — "share" is the more idiomatic verb in this context. Option C is wordy and almost instructional, as if the listener doesn't know what a chat window is. Option D breaks the flow entirely by deferring action; if something is useful right now, share it now. "I'll share the link in chat" is the leanest, most common form.
4 / 5
Someone asks you a question in a meeting but you need a moment to find the relevant document. What do you say?
"Could you give me a moment to pull that up?": Polite, professional, and signals a short, purposeful pause rather than confusion or unpreparedness. "Pull that up" is the standard idiom for opening/finding a document or screen during a live session. Real examples: "Bear with me — could you give me a moment to pull that up?"; "Sure, just give me a moment to pull that up." Option A ("Wait a second") is too casual and can sound abrupt in a professional setting. Option C is mechanical and over-explains the action. Option D suggests you don't have the information at all, which kills momentum; Option B signals you have it, just need a beat. It keeps the audience's confidence intact.
5 / 5
Two people started talking at the same time due to video call lag. You want to acknowledge it and move on gracefully. What do you say?
"Sorry, go ahead — I think we had a bit of overlap there": This phrase defuses the collision gracefully by yielding the floor and naming the cause lightly ("overlap") without technical jargon or blame. It keeps energy positive and conversation moving. Real examples: "Sorry, go ahead — I think we had a bit of overlap there with the lag"; "Ha, after you — we seem to have overlapped." Option A is accurate but clinical and slightly blaming — it points a finger at "lag" instead of moving on. Option C is overly technical and slows the meeting further. Option D is a procedural suggestion that changes the meeting format — useful sometimes, but not the natural first response to a momentary collision. Option B is the most human, efficient, and warm recovery phrase.