glance (redirected from glanced)

at first glance and at first blush

when first examined; at an early stage. At first glance, the problem appeared quite simple. Later we learned just how complex it really was. He appeared quite healthy at first glance. At first blush, she appeared to be quite old.

See also: first

dart a glance at someone or something

to shoot a quick look at someone or something. She darted a glance at him and looked quickly away. He darted a glance at the door and looked even more uncomfortable.

See also: dart

fleeting glance

Fig. a quick glance; a very brief look. I had a fleeting glance at the car as it sped by, but I couldn't read the license place number.

furtive glance

a secret or quick glance, quickly averted. He made a furtive glance in the direction of the closet when the robbers asked where the jewelery was hidden.

glance around (some place)

to look quickly around some place. He glanced around the room, looking for his favorite cap. Mary glanced around, looking for her friend.

See also: around

glance at someone or something

to look quickly at someone or something. Sharon glanced at Todd to see if he looked as if he was ready to go. I glanced at my watch and realized how long all this had taken.

glance back (at someone)

1. to look quickly at someone who is looking at you. He glanced back at Mary, so he could remember her smile. She hoped he would notice her but he never even glanced back.

2. to look quickly at someone who is behind you. Dan glanced back at the man chasing him and ran on even faster. He glanced back and ran faster.

See also: back

glance down (at something)

to look quickly downward at something. Sherri glanced down at her watch and then pressed on the accelerator. She glanced down and hurried off.

glance off (someone or something)

to bounce off someone or something. The bullet glanced off the huge boulder. The baseball glanced off of Tom and left a bruise on his side where it had touched.

glance over someone or something

to examine someone or something very quickly. I only glanced over the papers. They look okay to me. The doctor glanced over the injured woman and called for an ambulance.

glance through something

to look quickly at the contents of something. I glanced through the manuscript, and I don't think it is ready yet. Would you glance through this report when you have a moment?

See also: through

know at a glance that...

to know [something] without much evidence; to know or understand something without a lot of observation. I knew at a glance that Bobbie was severely injured and had to be gotten to a hospital as soon as possible.

See also: know

steal a glance at someone or something

Fig. to sneak a peek at someone or something. He stole a glance at his brother, who appeared to be as frightened as he was. Karen stole a glance at her watch and yawned.

See also: steal

throw a glance at someone or something

to take a quick peek at someone or something. Liz threw a glance at her brother to see what he was going to do. I threw a glance at my watch and got ready to go.

See also: throw

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at first glance/sight

if something or someone seems a particular way at first glance, they seem that way when you first look at them The system is more complicated than it appears at first glance.

See also: first

without a backward glance

if you leave without a backward glance, you are completely happy to leave and have no sad feelings about it She left the city she had lived in all her life without a backward glance.

See also: backward, without

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at a glance

almost immediately The guide shows at a glance the amount of each type of food that most people need.

Usage notes: often used in newspapers and magazines as the title of a list of important facts: State budget at a glance

at first glance

when first looked at At first glance the deal looked great, but after reading the contract I wasn't so sure. The twins seem, at first glance, very similar, but they're actually very different.

Related vocabulary: at first sight

See also: first