look sharp

Idioms  

1. Get moving, be alert, as in The coach told the team they would have to look sharp if they wanted to win. This colloquial expression, dating from the early 1700s, originally meant “to keep a strict watch” but acquired its present sense in the early 1800s.

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

look sharp

"They look a really dangerous team, they look fit, they look sharp, they look hungry," ex-Liverpool midfielder Danny Murphy said on BBC Match of the Day following the USA's excellent first-half performance.

From BBC ● Jun. 13, 2026

In fact, it specializes in “mid,” or “gourmet cheeseburger,” TV, shows that look sharp, have a great cast, a killer setup…yet still leave you wanting just a bit more.

From MarketWatch ● Nov. 30, 2025

He was on the field Monday and continued to look sharp.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 25, 2025

"By doing this, as the analysis in the paper predicts, it generates 3D shapes that look sharp and realistic," he says.

From Science Daily ● Dec. 4, 2024

The creases in his uniform look sharp enough to injure somebody.

From "Amari and the Night Brothers" by B.B. Alston