check up on — monitor or verify
phrasal verbB1IELTS 5+neutralcommon
To find out if someone is doing what they should be doing, or to make sure something is true or correct.
Say it like a native
Textbook I shall verify whether she is fulfilling her obligations.
Native I just wanted to check up on her.
'Verify whether she is fulfilling obligations' is surveillance-formal; 'check up on her' is warm and natural.
Pattern: check up on + noun/pronoun
In use
- My manager likes to check up on us to make sure we're meeting our deadlines.daily life
- In my opinion, parents should check up on their children's online activities to keep them safe.IELTS speaking
Common mistake
✗ Let me check up her.
✓ Let me check up on her.
'Check up ON someone'.
Common collocations
check up on— on, her, the kids, regularly
Don't confuse it
'Check up on' is about making sure someone is doing what they should, while 'check on' is more about seeing if someone is alright.