What are the definitions of “size up”?
Learn how to use these expressions through these examples
- 1Assess a situation or person carefully..
The doorstaff SIZED UP everyone entering the club.
- 2Make something bigger or produce bigger products.
Soft drinks manufacturers have SIZED UP their products in recent years.
What’s the most common meaning of the phrasal verb “size up”?
The most common meaning of the phrasal verb size up is to assess or evaluate a situation or person carefully. It means to look at something or someone and make a judgment about them, often quickly.
What are the different verb forms of “size up”?
| Root Verb | size up |
| Third Person Singular Present | sizes up |
| Present Participle | sizing up |
| Simple Past | sized up |
| Past Participle | sized up |
Example
Before making a decision, she likes to size up the situation.
Example
He sizes up the competition before every race.
Example
She is sizing up the new employee to see if he is a good fit for the team.
Example
They sized up the problem and came up with a solution.
Example
The situation had been sized up and dealt with accordingly.
What kind of phrasal verb is “size up”?
Notes from a Native English Speaker
What is a transitive and intransitive verb? - A transitive verb always has an object after it. (Example: Sam bought a car.) - An intransitive verb never has an object.(Example: She laughed loudly.)
Transitive verb
“size up” is a transitive phrasal verb because it requires a direct object to complete its meaning. The direct object specifies what is being removed, obtained, or eliminated.
Example
She sized up the situation before making a decision.
Example
He sized up the new employee during the interview.
Notes from a Native English Speaker
What is a separable and inseparable phrasal verb? - A “separable phrasal verb” can be separated with an object between the verb and particle. - An “inseparable phrasal verb” cannot be separated by an object.
Inseparable
“size up” is an inseparable phrasal verb. This means that you can’t place an object between the verb and the particle, otherwise, it changes the meaning of the phrasal verb.
Example
She sized up the situation before making a decision.
Example
He sized up the new employee during the interview.
What are common phrases and expressions that include the phrasal verb “size up”?
Size up the competition
Assess or evaluate the competitors in a contest or market.
Example
Before launching their new product, the company sized up the competition.
Size up a person
Assess or evaluate a person based on their appearance, behavior, or other factors.
Example
The manager sized up the job candidate during the interview.
Good things to know
Does “size up” have an informal or formal tone?
Size up is a neutral phrasal verb that can be used in both informal and formal contexts. It is appropriate for everyday conversations, as well as more formal settings, such as business meetings or professional discussions.
