Thread: look up a/ the dictionary
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Old 01-Dec-2007, 22:00
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Default Re: look up a/ the dictionary
The following is taken from one of the Chinese-published dictionaries--A DICTIONARY OF ENGLISH PHRASAL VERBS(1982):

look up5: consult (a reference work, etc) in order to find out information): If you wish to have further information about the matter, look up this book.




Interesting. It is a highly colloquial usage. To me that means "look this book up in the catalogue".

I would still prefer "look them/it up in ..." for instructing you to consult a reference work for a meaning or explanation.
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