Cool MateLook at you vs This you
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Look at you
InformalTop 2,000 (common)
This you
InformalBeyond 10,000 (less common)
Most common: Look at you
| Look at you | This you | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 //lʊk æt jʊ//🇺🇸 //lʊk æt ju// | 🇬🇧 //ðɪs juː//🇺🇸 //ðɪs ju// |
| Meaning | A phrase used to show surprise or admiration towards someone. | A phrase used to confirm someone's identity or relate to what they've said. |
| Example | Wow, look at you! You’ve really improved your skills. | I saw your old photo on Facebook, and I thought, 'this you?' |
| Register | Informal | Informal |
| How common | Top 2,000 (common) | Beyond 10,000 (less common) |
| Collocations | Look at you now, Look at you with that, Look at you in that outfit | this you?, show me this you, is this you really |
| Antonyms | - | not this, that, those |
| Common mistakes | Used too formally in serious situations., Not appropriate for addressing strangers without context., Confused with 'Look at him/her' which is less personal. | Misusing in formal settings., Confusing with 'is this you?', Forgetting the context of the conversation. |
| Usage notes | Often used to express admiration or surprise; common in casual conversations among friends. | Commonly used in casual conversations; can express recognition or agreement. Not suitable for formal contexts. |
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Frequently asked questions: Look at you vs This you
What's the difference between Look at you and This you?
Look at you: A phrase used to show surprise or admiration towards someone. This you: A phrase used to confirm someone's identity or relate to what they've said.
Which is more common: Look at you and This you?
Look at you is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
Look at you: Wow, look at you! You’ve really improved your skills. This you: I saw your old photo on Facebook, and I thought, 'this you?'
Can I use Look at you and This you interchangeably?
Not always. Look at you and This you are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.