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Grammar fix

size up

assess (someone or something) quickly and informally

to look at a person or situation and form a quick judgment about them, often based on first impressions or limited information.

phrasal verbC1common

Hear it in context

Notice where the phrase sounds natural.

  • When I walked into the interview, I could tell the panel was sizing me up before I even sat down.daily life
  • In my opinion, people often size up others based on appearance, but that can lead to unfair assumptions.IELTS speaking

Fix the pattern

Pattern: size up + noun/pronoun

WrongShe sized up to the new boss.

RightShe sized up the new boss.

'Size up' takes the object directly — no 'to'.

Patternsize up + noun/pronoun

Use it right

Choose the version that sounds natural in speech.

Stiff He quickly evaluated the situation before responding.

Natural He sized up the situation before responding.

'Size up' is the natural spoken verb for a quick judgment; 'evaluated' is formal.

Build natural chunks

Words that usually travel with it.

  • size up + target
    the situationthe competitionhis opponenta stranger

Don't confuse it

'Size up' is more informal and immediate than 'evaluate' or 'assess', which suggest a longer or more careful process.

Try it in Daily Speak →