What Does “Chase sth up” Mean?
“Chase sth up” means to follow up on something, especially to get information or a response that is delayed or missing.
Introduction
The phrase “chase sth up” is a common phrasal verb used in English to describe the action of pursuing information, a task, or a reply that hasn’t been received yet. It is often used in professional and everyday contexts when someone needs to remind or prompt another person or organization about something outstanding. Understanding the chase sth up meaning helps learners communicate more clearly when discussing follow-ups. This phrase is especially useful in emails, phone calls, and meetings when you want to show that you are actively trying to resolve or complete something. Knowing how to use “chase sth up” correctly can make your English sound more natural and professional.
Quick Info Box
- Phrasal verb: chase something up
- Type: transitive
- Level: B1 (Intermediate)
- Short meaning: to follow up on something to get a response or progress
Structure (Grammar Rules)
“Chase sth up” is a separable phrasal verb. This means you can put the object (something) between “chase” and “up” or after the entire phrasal verb.
- chase something up
- chase up something
Examples:
- I need to chase the invoice up.
- I need to chase up the invoice.
How to Use “Chase sth up”?
You use “chase sth up” when you want to remind someone or ask about something that has not been done or answered yet. It is common in work situations, such as following up on emails, payments, or reports. It can also be used in personal life, for example, chasing up a delayed delivery or an appointment.
It is polite and effective to use in formal and informal settings. Adding “chase sth up” to your vocabulary helps you express persistence in a respectful way.
Examples
- I’ll chase up the missing documents and get back to you.
- She chased up the customer about the late payment.
- Have you chased up your application status yet?
- We need to chase up the electrician to fix the wiring.
- He always chases up his orders if they are delayed.
Common Mistakes
- Incorrect: I will chase up about the report.
Correct: I will chase up the report. - Incorrect: Chase up it now!
Correct: Chase it up now! - Incorrect: She chased up on the reply.
Correct: She chased up the reply.
Differences / Synonyms
Similar phrasal verbs include “follow up,” “check up on,” and “look into.”
- Follow up: Often used for actions after an initial contact or event, similar to “chase up” but more formal.
- Check up on: Implies verifying or monitoring something rather than reminding.
- Look into: Means to investigate rather than to remind or prompt.
“Chase sth up” focuses on actively pursuing a response or completion.
Common Collocations
- chase up an invoice
- chase up a payment
- chase up a reply
- chase up an order
- chase up a delivery
- chase up an application
Related Phrasal Verbs
Here are related phrasal verbs of chase sth up:
Real-life Dialogue
Anna: Have you heard back from the supplier yet?
John: No, not yet. I’ll chase it up this afternoon.
Anna: Great, we need that delivery before Friday.
Practice
Fill in the blank with the correct form of “chase up”:
- I need to ________ the manager about my request.
- Can you please ________ the payment? It’s overdue.
- She ________ her order after it was delayed.
FAQs
- What does “chase sth up” mean? It means to follow up on something to get a response or progress.
- Is “chase sth up” formal or informal? It is commonly used in both formal and informal English.
- Can I separate “chase” and “up”? Yes, “chase sth up” is separable. You can say “chase the invoice up” or “chase up the invoice.”
- What are some synonyms for “chase sth up”? “Follow up,” “check up on,” and “look into” are similar but have different nuances.
- When should I use “chase sth up”? Use it when you want to remind or prompt someone about something delayed or unanswered.