to give the once over
1
7.4
- phrasal verb
- Informal
:
dar un vistazo
- Before buying the used car, I want to give the once-over to check for any problems.
- gives the bedroom a quick once-over
- give this place the once-over
Examples
-
And the experts can start giving them the once-over first thing tomorrow.
-
But I'll give you the once over if it's my opinion you're after.
-
- Can you take this one, give it the once-over?
-
Why is he giving me the once-over?
-
Banner and I will give it the once over before it goes back to Asgard.
-
Think you'll get a chance to give her the once-over today?
-
He gives the bedroom a quick once-over.
Fiction book (1996) -
"How about we give this place the once-over, for starters?" Mack looked relieved.
Fiction book (2001) -
This is her? Jet gave Diane the once over, flapping from one perch to another to get a full view of her.
Fiction book (1998) -
Chastity glares with a jealous fury after Bianca and Joey, then gives Cameron the once-over and walks away.
Fiction book (1999)
Synonyms
∞
1.3
To look at something to check it or find information
642
2.5
To check something carefully, like papers or work
384
2.6
To examine something again to check details or make changes
299
1.5
To look quickly at someone or something
180
2.8
To read or check something carefully for mistakes
150
2.0
Look quickly at someone or something
18
3.2
Look at something quickly without reading it carefully
16
6.3
To look quickly through something to find an item or fact
10
2.8
To look at something carefully to find mistakes or problems
4
3.2
To look at something carefully and check all its parts
To look at someone with interest to judge or admire them
Antonyms
How Thorough
- US
70
6.2
868
2.5
- Informal
1
7.4
1
2.7
299
1.5
Surface Forms
Morphology
give + the + once + over
The parts 'give', 'once' and 'over' have clear literal meanings, and the idiom can be parsed as 'give one pass over' → a quick inspection, so there is a partial compositional basis. However, the specific noun phrase 'once-over' meaning a quick, often critical look is an idiomaticized collocation that a B1 learner who only knows the individual words may not reliably infer without prior exposure; cross-linguistic analogues (e.g. 'dar un repaso') help but do not make the expression fully transparent.
Etymology
Give the once over comes from the simple image of looking at something once and moving over it in a single quick pass, like walking around a car to check it quickly. So, it now means 'to look quickly and judge or inspect'.