What Does “Look sb over” Mean?
“Look sb over” means to carefully examine or inspect someone, usually by looking at them closely from head to toe.
Introduction
The phrase “Look sb over” is a common English phrasal verb used to describe the action of examining someone carefully. When you look someone over, you are paying close attention to their appearance, clothes, or condition. This expression can be used in many contexts, such as meeting someone new, checking if a person is well-dressed, or even assessing someone’s health. Understanding the Look sb over meaning can help you use it correctly in conversations and improve your English fluency.
Quick Info Box
- Phrasal verb: Look sb over (Look somebody over)
- Type: Transitive
- Level: B1 (Intermediate)
- Short meaning: To carefully examine or inspect someone
Structure (Grammar Rules)
“Look sb over” is a separable phrasal verb. This means you can place the object (sb) between “look” and “over,” or after the whole phrase.
- Look sb over (common and natural)
- Example: The coach looked him over before the game.
- Look over sb (less common, sounds awkward)
Best to keep the object between “look” and “over.”
How to Use “Look sb over”?
You use “look sb over” when you want to say that someone examines another person carefully. This can be about appearance, health, or condition. It’s often used in informal and formal speech. For example, a doctor might look a patient over, or a buyer may look someone over before a meeting.
Examples
When you meet someone new, you might look them over to get a first impression. Here are some sentences using “look sb over in a sentence”:
- The manager looked the new employee over before introducing him to the team.
- She looked him over from head to toe before deciding if he was the right candidate.
- Before the interview, the recruiter looked the applicant over carefully.
- The doctor looked the patient over to check for any signs of illness.
- He looked her over quickly and smiled.
Common Mistakes
Sometimes learners confuse the word order or use the wrong preposition with this phrasal verb. Here are some examples:
- Incorrect: She looked over him carefully.
Correct: She looked him over carefully. - Incorrect: They looked over the person.
Correct: They looked the person over.
Remember, the object (sb) should come between “look” and “over.”
Differences / Synonyms
“Look sb over” is similar to “check sb out” or “examine sb,” but there are small differences. “Check sb out” is more casual and can imply attraction, while “examine sb” is more formal and often used in medical or official contexts.
- Look sb over: Careful visual inspection (neutral tone)
- Check sb out: Informal, sometimes about attraction
- Examine sb: Formal, detailed inspection, often medical
Use “look sb over” when you want to express a careful but general visual check.
Common Collocations
When using “look sb over,” certain objects or phrases often appear together. Here are common collocations and their meanings:
- Look someone over carefully: To examine thoroughly
- Look someone over quickly: To inspect briefly
- Look someone over from head to toe: To check the entire appearance
- Look a candidate over: To evaluate a job applicant
- Look a patient over: To examine a person’s health
Related Phrasal Verbs
Here are related phrasal verbs of look sb over:
Real-life Dialogue
Here is a short conversation using “look sb over”:
Anna: Did you meet the new teacher yet?
Ben: Yes, I looked her over during the staff meeting. She seems friendly and professional.
Anna: I’ll do the same tomorrow. It’s important to know who we’re working with.
Practice
Try filling in the blanks with the correct form of “look sb over”:
- The detective __________ the witness carefully before the interview.
- Before buying the car, he __________ the mechanic __________ to check for any problems.
- She always __________ new students __________ when they arrive.
FAQs
- What does “look sb over” mean?
It means to carefully examine or inspect someone.
- Is “look sb over” formal or informal?
It can be used in both formal and informal situations.
- Can I say “look over sb”?
No, the correct form is “look sb over.”
- What is the difference between “look sb over” and “check sb out”?
“Look sb over” is neutral and about inspection; “check sb out” is more casual and can imply attraction.
- Can “look sb over” be used for objects?
Usually, it refers to people, but “look sth over” is used for objects or things.
