be on the lookout for
be on the lookout for — idiom
1. to try to find something or someone by looking carefully or staying watchful, es
to try to find something or someone by looking carefully or staying watchful, especially when you have a particular need or goal in mind
Talia is on the lookout for a flat close to the university campus.
be on the lookout for + noun phrase indicating what is wanted
The museum is always on the lookout for young artists for its summer exhibition.
After losing her phone, Iris spent the afternoon on the lookout for it around the house.
The charity is on the lookout for volunteers to help at the weekend food bank.
Hamza has been on the lookout for a used bicycle that does not cost too much.
- search for
more direct and active; 'be on the lookout for' implies watchful waiting as well as searching
- hunt for
more urgent and determined than 'be on the lookout for'
- keep an eye out for
informal, very close in meaning; interchangeable in most contexts
- ignore
to deliberately pay no attention, opposite of staying watchful
文法句型
be on the lookout for + noun phrase
用法筆記
Frequently used in continuous tenses — 'is on the lookout for', 'are always on the lookout for'. The object is typically the thing or person you want to find. In informal speech, 'on the lookout' can also stand alone without 'for' when the target is clear from context.
常見錯誤
be on the lookout for — phrasal verb
1. to keep watching carefully so that you notice something unusual, dangerous, or i
to keep watching carefully so that you notice something unusual, dangerous, or important if it happens or appears
Drivers should be on the lookout for deer running across the road at night.
modal + be on the lookout for + potential danger
Yasmin told the children to be on the lookout for broken glass on the beach.
Hospital staff are on the lookout for patients showing signs of the new virus.
Walk through the old market and be on the lookout for pickpockets near the stalls.
Brooke stayed on the lookout for suspicious emails trying to steal her password.
- watch out for
more urgent and warning-like; often used in imperatives
- keep an eye out for
informal; very close in meaning and usage
- stay alert to
slightly more formal; focuses on mental awareness
- overlook
to fail to notice something, the opposite of watchful attention
文法句型
be on the lookout for + noun phrase
be on the lookout + (implied)
用法筆記
Common in warnings and safety instructions, often in the imperative form. Unlike 'look for', which implies active searching, 'be on the lookout for' emphasises watchful readiness over a longer period. The object is usually a potential threat, danger, or change in a situation.