What Does โChase sth upโ Mean?
โChase sth upโ means to follow up on something, especially to get information or a response that is delayed or missing.
Introduction
The phrase โchase sth upโ is a common phrasal verb used in English to describe the action of pursuing information, a task, or a reply that hasnโt 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 โchase sth upโ 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)
โChase sth upโ is a separable phrasal verb. This means you can put the object (something) between โchaseโ and โupโ 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 โChase sth upโ?
You use โchase sth upโ 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 โchase sth upโ to your vocabulary helps you express persistence in a respectful way.
Examples
- Iโll 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 โfollow up,โ โcheck up on,โ and โlook into.โ
- Follow up: Often used for actions after an initial contact or event, similar to โchase upโ 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.
โChase sth upโ 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. Iโll chase it up this afternoon.
Anna: Great, we need that delivery before Friday.
Practice
Fill in the blank with the correct form of โchase upโ:
- I need to ________ the manager about my request.
- Can you please ________ the payment? Itโs overdue.
- She ________ her order after it was delayed.
FAQs
- What does โchase sth upโ mean? It means to follow up on something to get a response or progress.
- Is โchase sth upโ formal or informal? It is commonly used in both formal and informal English.
- Can I separate โchaseโ and โupโ? Yes, โchase sth upโ is separable. You can say โchase the invoice upโ or โchase up the invoice.โ
- What are some synonyms for โchase sth upโ? โFollow up,โ โcheck up on,โ and โlook intoโ are similar but have different nuances.
- When should I use โchase sth upโ? Use it when you want to remind or prompt someone about something delayed or unanswered.
