Be after means to be looking for something or wanting to get it: What are you after? means 'What are you looking for? What do you need?' The second meaning is to be trying to find or catch someone: The police are after him means the police are looking for him. It's an informal expression, especially common in British English.
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be after + something (= want to get/find); be after + someone (= chase, look for); What are you after?
- I'm after a warm winter jacket, but everything in this shop is too expensive.
- What exactly are you after, quick comments or detailed feedback on the essay?
- The police are after the driver who hit my car and drove off.
What changed
First versionI'm looking after a cheap flat near the university.
RevisionI'm after a cheap flat near the university.
Look after means only 'to take care of': look after a child, look after a plant. So I'm looking after a cheap flat sounds as if you're taking care of a cheap flat. To say you're trying to find one, I'm after or I'm looking for is enough.
Be after doesn't involve a physical chase; it's about a goal. Run after literally means to run behind someone or something: The dog ran after the ball. Be after means to be looking for or trying to get: Journalists have been after the minister for weeks. In a formal letter, write looking for instead: We are looking for an experienced accountant.
Your turn
A shop assistant walks up to you and asks: Can I help you? What are you ___ today?
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after — A shop assistant walks up to a customer and asks what they're looking for. There's a set question for this: What are you after? Looking after means 'taking care of someone', and a shop assistant wouldn't ask a customer who they're taking care of.
Imagine you're messaging a seller on a classifieds website. Say what you're looking for and give one important detail: the size, price or colour.
Hi, I'm after a second-hand road bike for under 300 pounds.
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