look after

take care of someone or something

A2

What does "look after sb/sth" mean?

To look after someone or something means to take care of them and make sure they are safe, healthy, or in good condition. It describes an ongoing responsibility, not just a single action — for example, feeding a pet every day, caring for an elderly parent, or keeping a house clean and tidy while someone is away. You can look after people, animals, plants, property, or even more abstract things like someone's interests or affairs. It is a very common, neutral phrase that works in everyday conversation and in more professional situations, such as healthcare or childcare.

Examples

How to use it

look after + person/animal/thing

The most common pattern — the object always comes directly after 'after', never between 'look' and 'after'.

My sister looks after our dog when we go on holiday.

look after + pronoun

Pronouns must also follow 'after' — never place them between 'look' and 'after'.

The children are too young to look after themselves.

be looked after

The passive is natural and common, especially when describing the person or thing receiving care.

The elderly residents are well looked after by the staff at the care home.

look after + someone's + noun

Used when you are responsible for managing or protecting something that belongs to someone else.

Her lawyer will look after her interests while she is abroad.

Common Collocations

childrenelderly parentsa petyourselfa housesomeone's interests

Common Mistakes

Wrong word order

'Look after' cannot be split — the object must always come after 'after', not between 'look' and 'after'. This applies to pronouns too.

✗ Can you look him after this afternoon?
✓ Can you look after him this afternoon?
Confusing 'look after' with 'look out for'

'Look after' means to care for someone over a period of time. 'Look out for' means to watch for a danger or to stay alert to protect someone from a specific threat — it is not the same as general, ongoing care.

✗ She asked her neighbour to look out for her plants while she was away.
✓ She asked her neighbour to look after her plants while she was away.

Usage

'Look after yourself' is very common in British English as a friendly goodbye. This phrasal verb is neutral and works in both casual conversation and professional contexts like healthcare or childcare.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I say 'look after yourself' as a goodbye?

Yes! 'Look after yourself' is extremely common in British English as a warm, friendly way to say goodbye — similar to 'take care'. You can use it both as a genuine instruction and as a casual farewell.

What kinds of things can you look after?

You can look after people (children, elderly relatives, patients), animals (pets, farm animals), places (a house, a garden), and even abstract things like someone's business or interests. The key idea is that you have ongoing responsibility for something.

Does 'look after' describe one action or something longer?

'Look after' usually describes an ongoing responsibility or a period of care, not just a single moment. For example, looking after a baby means feeding, watching, and caring for them over time — not just one thing you do once.

Can 'look after' be used in the passive?

Yes, the passive is very natural with 'look after'. The phrase 'well looked after' is especially common — for example, 'The patients were well looked after by the nurses.'

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