to glance over
18
3.2
- phrasal verb
:
echar un vistazo a
- Before the meeting, I quickly glance over the agenda to ensure I am prepared.
And then the next mortar hits and I kind of glance over and that's when I see Glenn go down.
- And then the next mortar hits and I kind of glance over and that's when I see Glenn go down.
Examples
-
"They're lovely, aren't they?" Orianna said, glancing over her shoulder at the family.
Fiction book (1993) -
I was glancing over your files.
-
See, when she glances over to you, she smiles at you.
-
The papers scatter on the ground, and the man glances over but keeps on walking.
Blog text (26) -
Reed flashes him a smile and glances over at Bob.
Fiction book (1993) -
I open wide the upper doors and glance over the bare shelves, but I know it isn't really empty.
Academic text (2008) -
Eric quickly glances over his shoulder to make sure Anne Marie's backing him up.
Fiction book (1993) -
Sayer and Miss Costello, at another table, glance over at the others who are all laughing.
Fiction book (1990) -
Medicine Wolf shyly glanced over at Bear Paw, who had told his story straight and true.
Fiction book (1992) -
Brow lifted, Johnno glanced over his shoulder at the tangle of bodies.
Fiction book (1990)
Synonyms
∞
1.3
To look at something to check it or find information
299
1.5
To look quickly at someone or something
150
2.0
Look quickly at someone or something
127
2.7
To look quickly to find specific information
119
1.1
To look quickly and secretly at something
16
6.3
To look quickly through something to find an item or fact
10
8.2
To look quickly and casually at something you are curious about
4
4.8
To quickly say the main points
1
3.8
To read quickly without looking at details
1
2.7
Read something quickly without looking at details
1
7.4
To look quickly to check if something is okay
To look quickly at something
To look quickly in an informal way
To have a quick look at something because you are curious
How Thorough
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning 'to examine or look at something quickly or superficially' is directly derivable from combining 'glance' (to look briefly) with 'over' (across/through), where the particle adds a sense of scanning the whole item. This verb+particle compositional pattern is common in English and found in many other languages, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents would readily infer the MWE meaning.
Etymology
The phrasal verb glance over comes from the image of your eyes making a quick glance and moving over a page or list, just looking quickly. So it means 'to look quickly and not carefully'.