backward glance
2
3.5
- noun
- As she walked away from the party, she took a brief backward glance at her friends.
Examples
-
No further words, no questioning of the patient if she needed anything else, no backward glance.
Fiction book (1993) -
Down this, she glided as if on an invisible current, without so much as a backward glance.
Fiction book (1998) -
Drives away without a backward glance.
-
"Coming right up," the waitress said and left without a backward glance.
Fiction book (2002) -
He's leaving me without a backward glance.
-
The players will leave Charlie behind without a backward glance if he can't help them win.
Blog text (7) -
Then I checked the money in the briefcase and left without a backward glance.
Fiction book (2002) -
I silently said goodbye to my friend with a single backward glance and began to climb.
Fiction book (1996) -
"Dolly and Mrs. Shevvington left the room without a backward glance."
Fiction book (1990) -
The fleeting backward glance that Klinger allowed himself as he hurried away caused him to quicken his step.
Fiction book (1994)
How Long
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning 'a brief look back/over one's shoulder' is directly and transparently composed from 'backward' (toward the back or earlier position) + 'glance' (a quick look). This straightforward adjective+noun composition follows common cross-linguistic patterns, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents will readily infer the MWE's meaning.
Etymology
Backward glance comes from the simple image of turning your head to look behind you, a small backward glance over your shoulder. That's why the phrase means 'a quick look back' or a brief look at something behind you.