cast a glance
To look quickly (at something or someone). I always cast a glance at my desk to make sure I have everything before I leave the office at night. She cast a glance in my direction before she boarded the train.
at a glance
1. With only a quick look. I have notes hanging all over my cubicle so that I can answer customers' questions at a glance.
2. Used to indicate that something is a brief summary. Here are our fourth quarter projections at a glance.
at first blush
Upon first seeing or considering something. At first blush, I thought the house was great, but the inspector's list of problems changed my opinion. The contract did seem favorable at first blush, but it eventually cost me a lot of money.
at first glance
Upon first seeing or considering something. At first glance, I thought the house was great, but the inspector's list of problems changed my opinion. The contract did seem favorable at first glance, but I can see now that it would not have been beneficial.
at first glance
and at first blushwhen 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.
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.
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.
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.
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?
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.
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.
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.
at first blush
when first learning or thinking about something At first blush, the house seemed perfect until we discovered we had no heat or hot water.
Related vocabulary: at first glanceat 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