12 Meeting Rescue Phrases for Work
What to Say When Things Go Wrong Mid-Meeting
Why You Need These Phrases
It happens to everyone: you're in a meeting and suddenly you lose your train of thought. Or someone says something you didn't catch. Or you need to interrupt but don't want to seem rude. In your native language, you'd handle these moments easily. In English, the pressure makes everything harder. These 12 phrases are your safety net. Memorize them, and you'll never be stuck without words again.
When You Lose Your Train of Thought
Let me take a step back and reframe that.
When to use: You started explaining something and got lost mid-sentence.
Why it works:
Sounds intentional—like you're improving your explanation, not recovering from a mistake.
Alternative:
"Actually, let me put that differently."
I want to make sure I'm being clear here. The key point is...
When to use: You're rambling and need to reset.
Why it works:
Redirects attention to your main point while buying time to collect your thoughts.
Alternative:
"Let me cut to the core of this..."
Give me a moment to pull up that number/reference.
When to use: You need time to think but want to seem prepared.
Why it works:
Creates a natural pause while making you look thorough, not scattered.
Alternative:
"Let me double-check that figure to make sure I give you accurate information."
When You Don't Understand Something
Could you say more about that? I want to make sure I fully understand.
When to use: Someone explained something and you didn't follow.
Why it works:
Sounds like intellectual curiosity, not confusion.
Alternative:
"Can you walk me through that one more time?"
Just to make sure we're aligned—you're saying that...
When to use: You think you understood but aren't certain.
Why it works:
Lets you confirm without admitting you were lost.
Alternative:
"Let me paraphrase to make sure I've got this right..."
I caught the first part, but could you repeat the second half?
When to use: Someone spoke too fast or you missed part of it.
Why it works:
Specific requests get better responses than 'can you repeat that?'
Alternative:
"Sorry, I missed what you said after [specific point]."
When You Need to Interrupt
Sorry to jump in—I have a quick thought on that.
When to use: You need to add something but someone else is talking.
Why it works:
Acknowledges the interruption while signaling it will be brief.
Alternative:
"If I could add something quickly..."
Before we move on, can I address that point?
When to use: The conversation is moving past something important.
Why it works:
Creates urgency without being aggressive.
Alternative:
"I'd like to go back to something you mentioned..."
I want to build on what [Name] said...
When to use: You want to interrupt but frame it as collaboration.
Why it works:
Positioning as 'building on' rather than 'contradicting' reduces resistance.
Alternative:
"That connects to something I've been thinking about..."
When You Need More Time
That's a great question. Let me think about the best way to answer it.
When to use: You're asked something you weren't prepared for.
Why it works:
Compliments the asker while creating space to think.
Alternative:
"I want to give you a thoughtful answer on that—give me a second."
I don't want to give you an incomplete answer. Can I follow up after the meeting?
When to use: You genuinely don't know and need time to research.
Why it works:
Shows integrity and thoroughness rather than scrambling.
Alternative:
"Let me get you accurate information on that by end of day."
There are a few dimensions to this. Let me start with...
When to use: You need to buy time while organizing a complex answer.
Why it works:
Signals you're being thorough, not stalling.
Alternative:
"This requires a nuanced answer. The first thing to consider is..."
Robert Cushman
I help Latin American tech professionals communicate with executive-level confidence so they can close bigger contracts, command premium rates, and advance their international careers.
After coaching 200+ professionals from Smarttie, Grupo Kopar, Terramar Brands, and Sourceability, I know that what separates good from great in high-pressure meetings isn't vocabulary—it's leadership communication.