a fleeting glimpse

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a fleeting glimpse" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a brief or momentary view of something. Example: "As the train sped by, I caught a fleeting glimpse of the beautiful landscape outside the window."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Less than a month ago, someone on reddit caught a fleeting glimpse of a checkbox that said "Enable Android Apps to run on your Chromebook".

TechCrunch

It was a fleeting glimpse at what I was doing then".

The New Yorker

The record allows a fleeting glimpse of Mary's sense of herself.

The New Yorker

An insight is a fleeting glimpse of the brain's huge store of unknown knowledge.

The New Yorker

I caught a fleeting glimpse of a small group heading in for the night.

The New York Times

The Jane Seymour section briefly blossomed into a lusher melodiousness, a fleeting glimpse of love.

The New York Times - Arts

McIlroy was another who caught a fleeting glimpse of the promised land before it faded away.

The Guardian - Sport

He unfolded it and waved it in the air briefly, allowing me a fleeting glimpse.

The New Yorker

But it turned out to be nothing more than a fleeting glimpse of what could have been.

The New York Times - Sports

He caught a fleeting glimpse of God in the math here, in the infinitesimal duration of a life.

The New Yorker

What had made him step on the gas was a fleeting glimpse of a trouser cuff beneath her skirt.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a fleeting glimpse" to effectively convey the brevity and often unexpected nature of an observation. It's particularly useful in descriptive writing to add a sense of immediacy and transience.

Common error

While "a fleeting glimpse" is evocative, avoid using it excessively in a single piece of writing. Overuse can diminish its impact and make your writing sound repetitive. Vary your descriptive language to maintain reader engagement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a fleeting glimpse" functions primarily as a noun phrase, acting as the subject or object of a verb. It describes the act of briefly seeing something. Ludwig's examples illustrate its use in conveying momentary observations.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

98%

Wiki

1%

Science

1%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a fleeting glimpse" is a grammatically sound and frequently used noun phrase that describes a brief or momentary view. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is correct and usable in written English. It is commonly found in news and media contexts, serving to add a sense of transience and immediacy to descriptions. When using this phrase, aim for variety in your writing and avoid overuse to maintain its impact. Consider alternatives like "a momentary glimpse" or "a quick look" for semantic variation. The examples provided by Ludwig offer further clarity on its proper usage.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a momentary glimpse

Replaces 'fleeting' with 'momentary', highlighting the very short duration of the observation.

a brief view

Substitutes 'glimpse' with 'view', focusing on the act of seeing something quickly.

a quick look

Uses 'quick look' instead of 'fleeting glimpse', offering a more casual way to describe a brief observation.

a passing glance

Emphasizes the casual and incidental nature of the observation.

a momentary impression

Focuses on the brief impact or effect that something has on the observer.

a rapid sighting

Replaces 'glimpse' with 'sighting', stressing the act of spotting something quickly.

a transient view

Uses 'transient' to emphasize the temporary nature of the visual experience.

a swift peek

Implies a hurried and often secretive look.

a short sighting

Highlights the brevity of the observation.

a hasty look

Suggests the observation was made quickly, possibly due to time constraints.

FAQs

How can I use "a fleeting glimpse" in a sentence?

You can use "a fleeting glimpse" to describe seeing something briefly and often unexpectedly, such as, "I caught "a fleeting glimpse" of the deer as it ran across the road".

What are some alternatives to "a fleeting glimpse"?

Alternatives include "a momentary glimpse", "a brief view", or "a quick look". Each emphasizes the short duration of the observation.

Is "fleeting glimpse" formal or informal?

"A fleeting glimpse" is generally considered neutral in formality. It's suitable for both casual and more formal writing contexts, although in highly formal or scientific contexts, more precise language might be preferred.

What does "a fleeting glimpse" imply about the observer?

"A fleeting glimpse" suggests that the observer's view was brief and possibly unintentional. It can imply that the thing observed was transient, unexpected, or partially hidden.