Meaning trap
follow up
pursue leads persistently
to investigate or pursue information, leads, or suspicions in a determined and sustained way, especially in professional, journalistic, or investigative contexts.
Don't mix these meanings
Same phrase, different job.
to investigate or pursue information, leads, or suspicions in a determined and sustained way, especially in professional, journalistic, or investigative contexts.
'follow up' also has the more basic meaning 'to find out more about something or take further action'; this is the advanced sense.
Hear it in context
Notice where the phrase sounds natural.
- The journalist decided to follow up on the anonymous tip, spending weeks tracking down sources and documents.journalism
- In investigative journalism, it is crucial to follow up on every potential lead, no matter how minor it may initially appear.IELTS speaking
Fix the pattern
Pattern: follow up (on) something
WrongThe journalist followed up to the tip.
RightThe journalist followed up the tip.
'Follow up a lead/tip' (transitive) — or 'follow up on'.
Patternfollow up (on) something
Use it right
Choose the version that sounds natural in speech.
'Pursued with sustained determination' is heavy; in investigative work you 'follow up' leads.
Build natural chunks
Words that usually travel with it.
follow up + leada leadevery tipleadsa story
Don't confuse it
Unlike the B1 sense, which is about checking or taking further action to complete something, this sense emphasizes persistent and determined pursuit of information, often in the context of investigations or journalism.
Related
- follow up (to find out more about something or take further action) — 'follow up' also has the more basic meaning 'to find out more about something or take further action'; this is the advanced sense.