a fleeting look

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a fleeting look" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a brief or momentary glance at something or someone. Example: "She caught a fleeting look of sadness in his eyes before he turned away."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

13 human-written examples

Kessel smiled, yawned, then offered a fleeting look of resignation.

The New York Times - Sports

But Murray is only allowed a fleeting look.

The Guardian - Sport

Two of those moving pieces returned, offering a fleeting look at much of the roster the Knicks expect to maintain.

The New York Times - Sports

A passer-by, throwing only a fleeting look over the place, would have been completely unaware of it.

The New Yorker

"Glimpse," which began performances on Thursday night at Danspace Project, is a fleeting look into a narrow world that feels a bit like a Hungarian cafe.

The New York Times - Arts

So that when I told him that I had seen it as a child, a fleeting look of longing crossed his face.

The New York Times - Magazine

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

46 human-written examples

Then again, a surprise may lie ahead here, because one of the biggest risks Dickensian takes is to demand that you pay the utmost attention; any fleeting look could foretell a major moment.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

Take a look at Team Trump's sweet mini-doc above, and appreciate it for what it is: a weird, fleeting look at a weird, fleeting trip.

Vice

The magic is in "a little reluctantly": one sees the fleeting look of displeasure, the slow tug on the wires; rather, remembers it, from similar images stored in one's mind and awaiting release.

The New York Times - Books

The world will give us a fleeting fresh look.

Huffington Post

He turned out to be a tall, ponytailed Swede, whom I'll call Lars: a man so polite that the only sign of distress he ever showed was a fleeting, pained look.

Vice

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a fleeting look" to describe a brief or momentary visual impression, often suggesting something that is quickly gone or not fully grasped. For example, "He caught a fleeting look of surprise on her face."

Common error

Avoid using "fleetingly look", as "fleeting" is an adjective modifying "look". "Fleetingly" is an adverb and would modify a verb, not a noun. The correct structure is "a fleeting look".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a fleeting look" functions as a noun phrase, where "fleeting" is an adjective modifying the noun "look”. As Ludwig AI indicates, it is grammatically correct and commonly used.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a fleeting look" is a grammatically correct and commonly used phrase to describe a brief or momentary visual impression. Ludwig AI analysis confirms its validity and adaptability. Predominantly found in News & Media, the phrase maintains a neutral register, suitable for various contexts. When looking for alternatives, consider phrases like "a momentary glance" or "a quick glimpse" to convey similar meanings. Remember to avoid using "fleetingly look", as "fleeting" correctly modifies the noun "look".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a momentary glance

Substitutes 'fleeting' with 'momentary' and 'look' with 'glance', both suggesting a brief visual impression.

a quick glimpse

Replaces 'fleeting' with 'quick' and 'look' with 'glimpse', emphasizing the speed and incompleteness of the view.

a brief observation

Uses 'brief' to convey the short duration and 'observation' to highlight the act of noticing.

a passing glance

Employs 'passing' to indicate the transient nature and 'glance' for a quick look.

a short peek

Replaces 'fleeting' with 'short' and 'look' with 'peek', suggesting a rapid and sometimes surreptitious view.

a swift view

Uses 'swift' to emphasize the speed and 'view' as a general term for visual perception.

a rapid survey

Substitutes 'fleeting' with 'rapid' and 'look' with 'survey', highlighting a fast and comprehensive, though shallow, examination.

a casual glance

Replaces 'fleeting' with 'casual', indicating a lack of intent or seriousness in the observation.

a superficial glimpse

Uses 'superficial' to stress the lack of depth and 'glimpse' for a partial view.

an ephemeral view

Replaces 'fleeting' with 'ephemeral', heightening the sense of transience, and uses 'view' as a visual perception.

FAQs

What does "a fleeting look" mean?

The phrase "a fleeting look" refers to a quick or momentary glance. It suggests that the view was brief and perhaps not fully comprehensive.

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

You can use alternatives like "a quick glimpse", "a brief glance", or "a passing glance" depending on the context.

Is "fleeting look" formal or informal?

The phrase "a fleeting look" is suitable for both formal and informal contexts. Its usage is common in news articles, literature, and everyday conversation.

How do I use "a fleeting look" in a sentence?

You can use "a fleeting look" to describe a brief visual impression. For example: "She gave the room "a fleeting look" before leaving" or "He caught "a fleeting look" of sadness in her eyes".