PHRASAL VERBS, IDIOMS AND OTHER EXPRESSIONS USING ‘LOOK’

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PHRASAL VERBS, IDIOMS AND OTHER EXPRESSIONS USING ‘LOOK’

Exercise 1:

Complete these phrasal verbs with an appropriate particle (in, to, of, etc) or particles. The particles you need are in alphabetical order, and you need to use each particle or particle pair once only. The meaning of each phrasal verb in its context is explained in italics at the end of each sentence.

1	It can be very hard looking _____ three children all day. (to take care of someone or something and make certain they have everything they need)
2	Looking _____, I think that the company needs to develop some new services. (to think about what is likely to happen, or plan what you are going to do in the future)
3	We're looking carefully _____ all the options that are open to us. (to think about a situation or subject carefully, especially in order to make a decision)
4	Most people look _____ _____ their schooldays with mixed feelings. (to think about a time or event in the past)
5	Jane looks _____ _____ people who haven't been to university. (to think you are better or more important than someone else)
6	Maureen is really looking _____ _____ her holiday next week. (to feel happy and excited about something that is going to happen)
7	Can you look _____ _____ Eileen on your way to work, and see if she needs anything? (to visit someone for a short time on your way to another place, especially if they are ill or may need help)
8	I wrote a letter of complaint to the airline, and they've promised to look _____ the matter for me. (to try to discover the facts about something such as a problem or a crime)
9	Steve isn't related to me, but I look _____ him as a brother. (to think of someone or something in a particular way)
10	The restaurant is small but it's easy to find. Look _____ _____ the post office, and it's almost directly opposite. (to look carefully at people or things around you in order to find a particular person or thing)
11	The Health and Safety officer has been looking _____ the factory. (to visit a place in order to examine it)
12	I can't decide what to cook for the dinner party, so I've been looking _____ your cookery books for inspiration. (to read something quickly, especially to find the information you need)
13	When I was young, I always looked _____ my grandparents for advice. (to hope or expect to get help, advice, etc, from someone)
14	If you don't know what 'loquacious' means, look it _____ in the dictionary. (to try to find a particularpiece of information by looking in a book or on a list, or by using a computer)
15	Liz Watkins is the best manager we've ever had, and everyone looks _____ _____ her. (to admire and respect someone)

Exercise 2:

Match the first part of each sentence on the left with the second part on the right, using the idioms and other expressions in bold to help you. Try to decide what each one means, then check your answers in the back of the book.

1	Mark isn't very attractive. Most women wouldn't look…	a	…what you've done!
2	Sue's a really nice person, but she's not much to look…	b	…in the mirror.
3	The computer he gave you isn't the best one in the world, but you shouldn't look a gift horse…	c	…in the eye.
4	I told you to be careful with that. Now look…	d	…trouble.
5	We know that Bob is stealing from the office. We need to do something. We can't just look…	e	…no further than our website.
6	Liverpool dominated the game from the beginning, and Chelsea hardly even got a look-…	f	…the cat dragged in!
7	When Mike asked me why I had taken his money without asking, I couldn't look him…	g	…at.
8	You're such a snob! You always look down…	h	…yourself and keep in touch.
9	I started my own Internet company when I was sixteen, and I've never looked…	i	…for a cheap apartment.
10	This is the third time this week that you've been late. You must be looking for…	j	…at the kitchen and went somewhere else.
11	Be careful! Look where...	k	…in.
12	Anyone who needs a job need look…	l	…see.
13	Goodbye. Look after…	m	…twice at someone like him
14	You think you're so perfect and wonderful, don't you? Well, you're wrong. It's time you took a long hard look…	n	…leap.
15	What are you wearing? You look like something that…	o	… your nose at people.
16	What have you done? I don't like that look…	p	…on your face.
17	I've just moved to London and am on the lookout…	q	…back.
18	You always make decisions without thinking properly. You really need to look before you…	r	…in the mouth.
19	Everyone says that the new art gallery is really good. Let's go and have a look-…	s	…you're going or you'll have an accident.
20	We were going to eat in the hotel restaurant, but we took one look…	t	…the other way.

ANSWER KEY

Exercise 1: 1. looking after 2. Looking ahead 3. looking … at 4. look back on 5. looks down on 6. looking forward to (this phrasal verb can also be followed by an object: "I'm really looking forward to my holiday") 7. look in on 8. look into 9. look on 10. look out for 11. looking over 12. looking through 13. looked to 14. look … up 15. looks up to Exercise 2: 1. (m) (Wouldn't look twice at is used for saying that you are not at all interested in someone or something) 2. (g) (Someone or something that is not much to look at is not very attractive) 3. (r) (Don't look a gift horse in the mouth is used for saying that if you are given something good, you should not complain about it or try to find things that are wrong with it) 4. (a) (Look what you've done is a spoken expression used when you are annoyed with someone and want them to look at the result of their action) 5. (t) (If you look the other way, you deliberately ignore something that is happening) 6. (k) (Get or have a look-in means to get an opportunity to take part in something or show how well you can do something. It is usually used in negatives or questions: "You've been talking non-stop for half an hour. Can I get a look-in?") 7. (c) (When you look someone in the eye or in the face, you look at them when you are talking to them, especially when you are telling them something that is true. It is usually used in negatives and questions: "Can you look me in the eye and tell me that you aren't seeing someone else?") 8. (o) (If you look down your nose at someone, you think that you are better than they are) 9. (q) (Never looked back is used for saying that someone achieved something special and then became even more successful) 10. (d) (Someone who is looking for trouble is behaving in a way that is likely to get them involved in an argument or fight) 11. (s) (Look where you're going is a spoken expression used for telling someone to be more careful. We can also say look what you're doing) 12. (e) (Need look no further is used for saying that you do not need to search anywhere else apart from the suggested place) 13. (h) (Look after yourself is a spoken expression used for saying goodbye to someone you know well. It has the same meaning as take care) 14. (b) (If someone tells you to take a long hard look in the mirror or at yourself, they are telling you that you are not as good or perfect as you think you are) 15. (f) (Someone who looks like something that the cat dragged in has a very dirty and untidy appearance) 16. (p) (The look on someone's face is the expression they have on their face or in their eyes) 17. (i) (If you are on the lookout for something, you are looking carefully to find, obtain or avoid someone or something) 18. (n) (Look before you leap is an expression used for advising someone to think carefully before doing something) 19. (l) (A look-see is an informal expression meaning an act of looking at or checking something quickly) 20. (j) (If you take one look at someone or something, you look quickly and make a decision) Notice how a lot of the idioms and other expressions in