check up

make sure someone is doing what they should, or that something is correct

B2

What does "check up on sb/sth" mean?

To check up on someone or something means to deliberately verify that they are doing what they are supposed to be doing, or that information or progress is accurate. There is often a subtle sense of distrust behind this action — the person checking implies they are not entirely confident that things are going as they should. It is commonly used in contexts involving authority or responsibility, such as a manager checking up on employees, a parent checking up on a teenager, or a supervisor checking up on a project. The verb can also apply to non-personal things, such as checking up on facts, deliveries, or a supplier's performance. The 'up' in the phrase is important — it suggests a thorough or deliberate act of verification, rather than a casual glance.

Examples

How to use it

check up on + person/thing

The most common pattern — the object (person or thing being monitored) always follows 'on'.

The regional manager drove out to check up on the new branch.

check up on + pronoun

Pronouns are very common and always come after 'on', never between the three parts of the verb.

I know you're not a child, but I just wanted to check up on you.

check up on + what/whether clause

Use a clause to describe the specific thing being verified, especially when the concern is about facts or behaviour.

She called the supplier to check up on whether the order had been processed correctly.

modal + check up on + person/thing

Modal verbs are frequently used with this phrasal verb to express possibility, permission, or necessity.

Could you check up on the interns while I'm at the conference?

check up (without object)

When the object is clear from context, 'check up' can be used without 'on' and its object as a shorter intransitive form.

He kept phoning every hour — I knew he was just checking up.

Common Collocations

check up on someonecheck up on employeescheck up on progresscheck up on the kidscheck up on a patient

Common Mistakes

Confusing 'check up on' with 'check in on'

'Check in on' someone is a caring, welfare-focused act — like popping in to see how a friend is doing. 'Check up on' implies monitoring or verifying behaviour, often with a degree of suspicion. If the sentence is about concern rather than oversight, use 'check in on'.

✗ My boss checked in on me to see if I was actually doing my work.
✓ My boss checked up on me to see if I was actually doing my work.
Dropping 'up' unnecessarily

Learners sometimes omit 'up' and use 'check on' instead. While 'check on' is a valid expression, it is more neutral and casual — it lacks the specific implication of deliberate verification or surveillance that 'check up on' carries.

✗ The auditor called to check on whether the accounts were in order.
✓ The auditor called to check up on whether the accounts were in order.
Trying to separate the verb

'Check up on' is a three-part verb and cannot be split. The object must always come after 'on' — nothing can be placed between 'check', 'up', or 'on'.

✗ She checked her employees up on to see if they were meeting targets.
✓ She checked up on her employees to see if they were meeting targets.

Usage

This phrasal verb is neutral and works in both spoken and written English, but it often implies a degree of distrust or oversight — use it carefully in professional contexts where 'monitor' or 'review' might sound more respectful. It's equally common in British and American English.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does 'check up on' always suggest distrust?

Not always, but the implication of oversight is usually present. When used with people — such as employees, students, or teenagers — it often carries a slight sense of suspicion or monitoring. When used with impersonal things like progress, facts, or deliveries, it tends to sound more neutral and professional.

Can 'check up on' be used in the passive, like 'I was checked up on by my manager'?

Technically it is grammatically possible, but it sounds very awkward and native speakers almost always avoid it. It is far more natural to keep the active form: 'My manager checked up on me'.

Is 'check up on' appropriate to use in professional or workplace settings?

It works in workplace conversations but can feel slightly blunt or accusatory when referring to colleagues or subordinates, since it implies a lack of trust. In formal reports or professional writing, 'monitor', 'review', or 'verify' are often more appropriate. In spoken workplace English, it is perfectly natural.

What kinds of objects can follow 'check up on'?

The most common objects are people in a position of responsibility or oversight — employees, students, patients, children. You can also use it with trackable processes or information, such as progress, facts, deliveries, or someone's whereabouts. It does not work well with simple physical things that you just glance at, like food cooking on the stove — for that, 'check on' is more natural.

Is this phrasal verb used differently in British and American English?

No — 'check up on' is equally common and carries the same meaning in both British and American English. You will encounter it in both without any difference in meaning or frequency.

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