look up and down
The phrase "look up and down" is commonly used to describe a thorough visual examination, often from head to toe.
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Definition
B2Social Interaction
(idiomatic, informal)To visually scan someone from head to toe, often to form a judgment or impression.
Example
- She looked him up and down before deciding to speak.
- He felt uncomfortable as they looked him up and down.
B2General Observation
(neutral)To examine something thoroughly by moving one's gaze from the top to the bottom and back up.
Example
- We looked up and down the street to find the missing cat.
- He looked up and down the document to ensure everything was correct.
Similar
Terms that have similar or relatively close meanings to "look up and down":
up and downlook uplook downsearch uplook aroundlook backlook onhead uplook toupside downlook atlook down onlook overfrom top to bottommove downloop upjump upback and forth