looking him up

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "looking him up" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to searching for information about someone, typically online or in a database. Example: "I haven't seen him in years, so I thought about looking him up on social media."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

15 human-written examples

I tried looking him up in the phone book.

The New York Times - Style

She stood there, looking him up and down.

The New Yorker

Which was my excuse for looking him up in England a couple of weeks ago.

The New York Times

He remembered one foreman looking him up and down, skeptical that he could do the job.

The New York Times

Mr. Badinter found out Mr. Leonik had been the subject of an article in The New York Times by looking him up on the Internet.

The New York Times

The female was more interested in Patrice than anything else, tugging at his clothing and looking him up and down.

The Guardian - Travel

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

45 human-written examples

Pereda looked him up and down.

The New Yorker

Look him up on DontDateHimGirl.com.

The New York Times

"I'd look him up right away.

The New Yorker

And Roger did look him up".

The New York Times - Magazine

Magdalena Gross snickers, looks him up and down.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "looking him up" when you want to convey a straightforward search for someone's contact information or online presence. It's suitable for both casual and slightly formal contexts.

Common error

Avoid using "looking him up" when you are referring to physically looking at someone. This phrase specifically refers to searching for information or contact details.

Linguistic Context

The phrasal verb "looking him up" functions as a means of describing the action of searching for information about a person, usually online. Ludwig AI confirms that this phrase is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

80%

Wiki

10%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Science

2%

Encyclopedias

1%

Academia

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "looking him up" is a common and grammatically sound phrasal verb that means searching for information about a person, typically online. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness. It is primarily used in news and media contexts and maintains a neutral tone, making it suitable for various communication scenarios. If a more formal tone is required, alternatives such as "locating him" or "researching him" may be considered. While widely accepted, be mindful not to confuse it with physically observing someone; it strictly refers to information retrieval.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

searching for him

This alternative focuses on the action of searching, without specifying the method.

finding him

This alternative highlights the act of successfully locating the person.

tracking him down

This suggests a more persistent or difficult search.

locating him

This is a more formal way of saying "finding him".

researching him

This suggests a more in-depth search for information.

investigating him

This implies a more formal or serious inquiry.

checking him out

This can also imply assessing someone's qualities or background.

searching information about him

This directly refers to search action, making it less idiomatic.

finding information on him

Focuses on the result of finding information rather than the searching activity.

browsing his profile

Specifically refers to viewing someone's online profile.

FAQs

How can I use "looking him up" in a sentence?

You can say, "I was curious about what he was doing, so I ended up looking him up online" or "She hadn't seen him in years, so she tried looking him up in the phone book".

What can I say instead of "looking him up"?

You can use alternatives like "searching for him", "finding him", or "locating him" depending on the context.

Is "looking him up" a formal or informal expression?

The phrase "looking him up" is generally considered informal to neutral. It is appropriate for casual conversations and many general writing contexts but might be too informal for highly formal or academic writing.

What does "looking someone up and down" mean, and how is it different from "looking him up"?

"Looking someone up and down" refers to visually inspecting someone from head to toe, often critically or appraisingly. "Looking him up", on the other hand, means searching for information about someone, usually online or in a directory.