Purple Level

Lesson Eight — extended practice with idioms

Look

look / looked / looked / looking

The verb "look" is used to make idiomatic verb phrases and it’s a part of many popular expressions.

look-alike = a person who looks very similar to someone else, usually someone famous. (used as a noun)

It’s easy to find an Elvis Presley look-alike in Las Vegas.

look at = read; hold something in one’s hand.

You should try to look at the newspaper at least once a day in order to practice your English.

look into = investigate; spend time finding information.

The police are looking into a couple of shooting deaths that happened over the weekend.

look like death warmed over = to look really tired or sick.

Tony was out with his friends until 3 a.m., so when he came into work the next morning, he looked like death warmed over.

look like something the cat dragged in = to look really tired or sick. Almost the same as "look like death warmed over."

You look like something the cat dragged in. Did you stay out late last night?

look-see = to look at something, sometimes for the purpose of amusement. Usually used with the verb "have."

Let’s go have a look-see at that new bar downtown.

look through = to look quickly through a newspaper, magazine, or website.

Ed looked through the college catalogue to decide whether or not this was the school he wanted to attend.

look up = find information; find a person.

Cindy used the internet to look up the word "ameliorate."

Look me up when you’re in town next time.

looker = an attractive woman.

Teresa is a real looker, but she doesn’t have a boyfriend. I wonder why.

lookie = look at this. (very informal, sometimes used with children.

Lookie over there at the moon. It’s full.

looking good = you look good, attractive, strong, smart. (This is a positive expression)

My garden is looking good this year. I’m going to get a big tomato harvest.

Hubert isn’t looking too good. What’s wrong with him?

* special note

look = Sometimes you’ll hear the word "look" used at the beginning of sentence when someone is trying to make an important point. Barack Obama, other politicians, people in business, and journalists use it a lot.

Look. The situation in Afghanistan is going to require a coordinated effort by all nations involved.

Next: Lesson Nine