look up — improve
phrasal verbB2IELTS 6+informaloccasional
To get better or become more successful, especially after a difficult time.
Say it like a native
Textbook The economic situation is showing signs of amelioration.
Native Things are finally looking up.
'Looking up' is the natural, hopeful way to say things are improving; 'showing signs of amelioration' is jargon.
Pattern: look up (for [someone/something])
In use
- After a few tough months, things are finally looking up for her.daily life
- Although the economy was struggling last year, experts say things are starting to look up.IELTS speaking
Common mistake
✗ My situation is looking up better.
✓ My situation is looking up.
'Look up' already means 'improving' — don't add 'better'. Usually intransitive: 'things are looking up'.
Common collocations
things look up— things are looking up, business is looking up, finally, at last
Don't confuse it
This meaning is different from searching for information; here, it means a situation is getting better.
Related
- look up (search for information) — Another meaning of 'look up' is 'search for information'; compare the examples to keep the meanings separate.