Look out for means to watch for something (a sign, a danger, a scam) or to protect and support someone, making sure they're all right. In the first sense, you're trying to notice something in time, especially something to be careful of. In the second, you're keeping an eye on someone close to you or a colleague.
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look out for + someone/something; look out for each other
- Look out for the yellow sign — that's where we turn left.
- In this neighbourhood, everyone looks out for each other.
- Always look out for fake websites when you buy concert tickets online.
What changed
First versionLook out of snakes on the trail.
RevisionLook out for snakes on the trail.
Beware of is a phrase many learners already know, which makes of feel like the natural choice here too. But look out of means to look through a window from inside: look out of the window. To warn someone to watch for danger, the preposition is for: look out for snakes.
Look out for someone and look after someone are both about caring for people, but in different ways. Look after means to take care of, to supervise: Can you look after the kids tonight? Look out for means to protect and support someone so they aren't hurt or taken advantage of: At my first job, an older colleague really looked out for me.
Your turn
Keep your bag closed on the metro and ___ pickpockets in crowded carriages.
Show the answer
look out for — Pickpockets need to be watched for and avoided, which is look out for. Look after means to take care of someone, and nobody is taking care of pickpockets here.
Describe a situation where someone looks out for you, or you look out for someone else. Say who looks out for whom and how.
My grandmother lives alone, so my whole family looks out for her and calls every evening to check she's fine.
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