appraising look

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "appraising look" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a gaze that evaluates or assesses someone or something, often conveying judgment or scrutiny. Example: "She gave him an appraising look, as if weighing his worthiness for the role."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

12 human-written examples

Hester gives him an appraising look.

The Guardian - Music

Orlando is here, sitting a few feet away with his appraising look.

The New York Times - Magazine

The look Ono throws them is her over-the-glasses appraising look.

The New York Times - Magazine

There comes a moment during the concert when Yoko Ono throws the audience an appraising look over her jumbo blue rimless glasses.

The New York Times - Magazine

"Hypothetically," I asked, "what would this dad need to do in order to win back authority in his own home?" My friend fixed me with an appraising look.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

"Would you let your daughter color her hair blue?" "Maybe," I said, as I gave the bottle blonde who appeared to be in her 80s an appraising look.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

48 human-written examples

And although her role is the least substantial of the four principals, Ms. Pittman makes Jory's cool, appraising looks speak volumes.

The New York Times

Weddings are on the rise, and so it is not uncommon to see groups of three women -- the bride-to-be, her mother and her future mother-in-law -- casting appraising looks at shop windows.

The New York Times

Phospho-specific antibodies were further appraised by looking for complete signal abolition following pre-incubation of sections with alkaline phosphatase (713 023 Roche Diagnostics GmbH, Penzberg, Germany).

British Journal of Cancer

"You get every house in the world appraised and you look at how much money there is.

The New York Times

Usually on the first day, they just gave her a nervous smile, but he seemed to be appraising her somehow, looking her up and down with the nod.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "appraising look" to describe a deliberate and thoughtful assessment of someone or something, conveying a sense of evaluation or judgment.

Common error

Avoid using "appraising look" too frequently, as it can make your writing sound repetitive. Vary your descriptions with synonyms like "evaluative glance" or "discerning gaze" to maintain reader engagement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "appraising look" functions as a noun phrase modified by an adjective. It describes a specific type of visual assessment, conveying scrutiny and evaluation, as evidenced by examples found by Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

80%

Science

10%

Wiki

5%

Less common in

Academia

2%

Formal & Business

2%

Encyclopedias

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "appraising look" is a grammatically sound and relatively uncommon expression used to describe a look that evaluates or assesses someone or something. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and provides examples primarily from news and media sources. Semantically related alternatives include "evaluative glance" and "assessing gaze". When using the phrase, consider the context and frequency to avoid repetition, and ensure it accurately conveys the intended sense of evaluation.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

evaluative glance

Replaces "appraising" with "evaluative" and "look" with "glance", suggesting a quicker assessment.

assessing gaze

Substitutes "appraising" with "assessing" and "look" with "gaze", implying a more intense observation.

scrutinizing stare

Replaces "appraising" with "scrutinizing" and "look" with "stare", indicating a more critical and intense examination.

calculating look

Replaces "appraising" with "calculating", emphasizing the intent behind the assessment.

discerning look

Substitutes "appraising" with "discerning", suggesting a look that is insightful and perceptive.

judgmental gaze

Replaces "appraising" with "judgmental", emphasizing the critical aspect of the look.

observant expression

Replaces "appraising look" with an "observant expression", focusing on the general appearance rather than the act of looking.

critical eye

Replaces "appraising look" with "critical eye", shifting the focus from the act of looking to the attribute of being critical.

searching gaze

Substitutes "appraising" with "searching", implying a look that is trying to find something specific.

inquiring glance

Replaces "appraising" with "inquiring", suggesting a look that is questioning and curious.

FAQs

What does "appraising look" mean?

An "appraising look" is a way of looking at someone or something that shows you are judging their qualities or value. It suggests a deliberate and thoughtful assessment.

What can I say instead of "appraising look"?

You can use alternatives like "evaluative glance", "assessing gaze", or "scrutinizing stare" depending on the context.

How can I use "appraising look" in a sentence?

You might say, "She gave him an "appraising look", as if trying to determine his suitability for the job" or "He cast an "appraising look" around the room, taking in every detail."

What's the difference between "appraising look" and "admiring look"?

An "appraising look" suggests evaluation, while an "admiring look" suggests appreciation or approval. The former is about assessing worth, while the latter is about expressing positive regard.