Circle back
American Slang Term
American
★★★★★ Very Common
Formal
Meaning: To return to a topic or discussion at a later time.
稍后再回到某个话题或讨论上。
Volver a un tema o discusión en otro momento.
後で話題や議論に戻ること。
나중에 주제나 논의로 다시 돌아오는 것.
Corporate jargon for revisiting something later. Often used to politely defer a conversation or avoid making a decision in the moment. Has become a widely mocked example of business-speak.
企业术语,指稍后再重新讨论某事。常用于礼貌地推迟对话或避免当场做决定。已成为被广泛嘲讽的商务用语典型代表。
Jerga corporativa para referirse a retomar algo más adelante. Se usa a menudo para aplazar educadamente una conversación o evitar tomar una decisión en el momento. Se ha convertido en un ejemplo ampliamente ridiculizado de lenguaje empresarial.
後で再び取り上げるという意味のビジネス用語。会話を丁寧に先送りしたり、その場での決断を避けるために使われることが多い。ビジネス用語の典型として広くネタにされている。
나중에 다시 논의하자는 뜻의 기업 전문 용어. 대화를 정중하게 미루거나 즉석에서 결정을 피할 때 자주 사용된다. 비즈니스 용어의 대표적인 조롱 대상이 되었다.
Examples
- Let's circle back on the budget proposal after we get Q3 numbers. 等第三季度的数据出来后,我们再回头讨论预算方案。Volvamos a la propuesta de presupuesto cuando tengamos las cifras del tercer trimestre.第3四半期の数字が出てから、予算案の件に戻りましょう。3분기 수치가 나오면 예산안 건으로 다시 돌아옵시다.
- I need to circle back with the client about their feedback. 我需要就客户的反馈再跟他们沟通一下。Necesito retomar el tema con el cliente sobre sus comentarios.クライアントのフィードバックについて、改めて確認する必要があります。고객 피드백에 대해 다시 확인해야 합니다.
- Can we circle back to that point you raised earlier? 我们能回到你之前提出的那个观点吗?¿Podemos volver al punto que planteaste antes?さっきあなたが指摘した点に戻ってもいいですか?아까 제기하신 부분으로 다시 돌아가도 될까요?
Pronunciation
Usage Guide
Context: meetings, emails, workplace
Tone: professional, sometimes evasive
✓ Do Say
- Let's circle back on that.那件事我们稍后再回头讨论吧。Volvamos a eso más tarde.その件はまた後で戻りましょう。그 건은 나중에 다시 이야기합시다.
- I'll circle back with you tomorrow.明天我再跟你沟通这件事。Retomo el tema contigo mañana.明日また確認しますね。내일 다시 연락드리겠습니다.
✗ Don't Say
- Don't use in casual settings — it sounds overly corporate.不要在日常休闲场合使用——听起来太商务化了。No uses esta expresión en contextos informales: suena demasiado corporativa.カジュアルな場面では使わないこと — いかにもビジネス的に聞こえる。일상 대화에서는 사용하지 마세요 — 지나치게 기업적으로 들립니다.
Origin & History
From the image of walking in a loop and returning to a starting point, adopted as business jargon in the 1990s–2000s.
Cultural Context
Era: 2000s–present
Generation: Working adults
Social background: Professional / White-collar
Regional notes: Corporate America — all regions
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