We use our eyes all the time, so look is a common verb in our thoughts. Here we’ll look over common idioms and phrasal verbs made with the word look, as a verb and as a noun.

For instance, if someone gives you a dirty look, does the person likely look up to you or look down on you? And what’s the difference between look out for and look in on?

For the answers to these and other questions, have a look below.

Question:
1. Student: My dog ate my homework, ma’am. (Heh-heh.)
   Teacher: If you’re telling the truth, ___ me in the eye and tell me that.
A. stare
B. look
C. focus
D. feast

Definition:
• look (someone) in the eye(s), v. phr., to face someone directly and speak honestly. Also: look (someone) in the face.
→ The teacher asked Johnny to look her in the eye and tell her that he was too sick to take the exam.

Question:
2. You’d better learn more about this company before you invest money in it. Look ___.
A. ahead of a fall
B. before you leap
C. into the crystal ball
D. it through and through

Definition:
• look before you leap, proverb, consider what will happen before you make a decision; consider the consequences.
→ Learn about the neighborhood before buying a house. Look before you leap.

Question:
3. Peter sure looked ___ in his expensive new suit. I’ve never seen him look so good.
A. tailored
B. frank
C. pressed
D. sharp

Definition:
• look sharp, v. phr., to dress with style and be well-groomed (hair cut, etc.).
→ Be sure to look/dress sharp for your first day of work.

Question:
4. Several companies are trying to get this service contract. If we want our company to win it, we have to look ___.
A. frank
B. sharp
C. swift
D. ready

Definition:
• look sharp, v. phr., be ready and attentive.
→ Our baseball coach said we had to look sharp if we wanted to win the game.

Question:
5. Sherry opened a clothing store and it was losing money for months. But business started looking ___ just before the holidays, and soon the store was making her rich.
A. up
B. down
C. on 
D. forward

Definition:
• look up, phrasal verb, to improve, to become better. 
→ Our soccer team was losing, but when our star player went in, things started looking up.

Question:
6. After she became a famous actress, Betty looked down ___ at her former friends. She felt she was better than they were.
A. her height
B. her nose
C. over
D. through

Definition:
• look down (one’s) nose, v. phr., to think one is better than others; to be arrogant. Also: look down on.
→ Lester looks down on anyone who can’t play a musical instrument.

Continue
A Look at Idioms 1
A Look at Idioms 2
A Look at Idioms 3
A Look at Idioms Crossword

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