a fast look

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a fast look" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to a quick glance or brief examination of something. Example: "Before making a decision, I took a fast look at the report to gather some initial insights."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

Spiked with energy and attitude, the nonfiction movie "Fightville" takes a fast look at a few men who, for pleasure and sometimes profit, like to smack and take down other men while practicing mixed martial arts.

The New York Times

(Scott) 'Fightville' (No rating, 1 25) Spiked with energy and attitude, this frustratingly superficial nonfiction movie from Petra Epperlein and Michael Tucker takes a fast look at a few men who take down other men while practicing mixed marial arts.

The New York Times

Mr. Mashberg, in a recent interview, said he was given a fast look, under a flashlight's beam, of a picture, unrolled from a storage tube, that appeared to be the Rembrandt seascape.

The New York Times

Want a fast look at the basics for navigating the new Artstor?

Johns Hopkins University

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

With the same abandon that she sang, she drove her Porsche through the hills of San Francisco, a fast looking car, decorated with psychedelic butterflies.

The New York Times - Books

With the same aband on that she sang, she drove her Porshe through the hills of San Francisco, a fast looking car, decorated with psychodelic butterflies.

The New York Times

First, as a fast look-up we will compute the adjacency matrix adj for the intersection of all pairs of semi-squares in O(n).

Algorithms for Molecular Biology

If you still have a hard time identifying what lanes are fast, look for a particular car in the freeway on a different lane you think might share the same route as you (people who look like commuters).

WikiHow

(He could do a punk-beauty book: "Live Fast, Look Young").

The New York Times

(He could do a punk-beauty book: "Live Fast, Look Young"). But one of his most treasured possessions definitely looks its age: the one book he managed to hang on to for 40-plus years.

The New York Times

To give you an example of what a fast might look like, let's say you stop eating after dinner at 7 p.m., you go to bed and wake up at 7 a.m.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a fast look" when you want to emphasize the speed and lack of depth in an examination or review. It suggests a quick assessment to get a general sense, not a detailed understanding.

Common error

Avoid using "a fast look" when you mean a detailed or thorough examination. The word 'fast' implies speed and a lack of in-depth analysis. For a detailed review, consider "a thorough look" or "a comprehensive review".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a fast look" functions as a noun phrase, where 'fast' modifies 'look', indicating the speed or brevity of the action. According to Ludwig AI, this is a correct and usable phrase.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Academia

25%

Wiki

25%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a fast look" is a grammatically correct and usable phrase in English, primarily functioning as a noun phrase to describe a quick or brief examination. Ludwig AI confirms its validity. While not extremely common, it finds application across various contexts, particularly in News & Media and Academia. For situations demanding a more formal tone, alternatives such as "a brief review" might be preferable. Remember to use this phrase when the speed and lack of depth are the main aspects you want to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a quick glance

Replaces 'fast' with 'quick', emphasizing the brevity of the look.

a brief overview

Shifts the focus to a summary or condensed examination.

a cursory inspection

Implies a superficial examination, focusing on the lack of thoroughness.

a swift peek

Uses 'swift' and 'peek' to highlight the speed and casual nature of the look.

a fleeting glimpse

Emphasizes the momentary nature of the look.

a rapid survey

Suggests a quick and comprehensive, but not detailed, examination.

a speedy scan

Highlights the speed at which something is visually processed.

a passing glance

Indicates a brief and often unintentional look.

a thumbnail review

Implies a very short review, just like a small image.

a glimpse

Simply shortens the phrase to a single word.

FAQs

What does "a fast look" mean?

The phrase "a fast look" refers to a quick or brief examination of something, often implying a superficial assessment rather than a detailed analysis.

What can I say instead of "a fast look"?

You can use alternatives like "a quick glance", "a brief overview", or "a cursory inspection" depending on the context.

When is it appropriate to use "a fast look"?

Use "a fast look" when you want to convey that an examination was done quickly and without much detail. For example, "I took a fast look at the data to get a general idea of the trends."

Is "a fast look" formal or informal?

The phrase "a fast look" is generally considered neutral and can be used in both formal and informal contexts, although more formal situations might benefit from alternatives like "a brief review".