cast a glance

USAGE SUMMARY

"cast a glance" is an idiomatic expression that is commonly used in written English.
For example, "He cast a glance at the painting on the wall" means he briefly looked at the painting.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

39 human-written examples

They did cast a glance in my direction, but not for long.

Independent

She cast a glance at the laundry strewn about the rehearsal room floor.

The New York Times

She cast a glance over the racks of clothes and stacks of vintage fabric.

The New York Times - Arts

I cast a glance north, toward the distant model of the Sun, and remembered something Kate McCartney had told me.

The New York Times

He cast a glance at the site where the remnants of the monarchy were executed a day earlier.

The New York Times

"We are all united against a nuclear Iran," he quipped, as he cast a glance at Mr. Samore.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

21 human-written examples

Casting a glance at the Greek side, he added: "Maybe in other terminals, people work less.

The New York Times

"Thank God," Feinberg said, casting a glance in Michael's direction.

The New Yorker

"My mother," Mr. Wylie said, casting a glance at Mr. Goulian in a sarong-length gray skirt.

The New York Times

"It's a terrible habit," he said, without casting a glance at his fingers as he made his way through Midtown Manhattan on a recent afternoon.

The New York Times

A friend once came over to my apartment and, casting a glance around the living room, said something to the effect of, "This is nice.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "cast a glance" to describe a brief and often casual observation. It's suitable for both formal and informal writing.

Common error

Avoid adding unnecessary prepositions after "glance". For example, it's "cast a glance at the painting" not "cast a glance at to the painting."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "cast a glance" functions as an idiomatic verb phrase. It typically modifies a subject by describing the action of quickly looking at something or someone. As Ludwig AI points out, this phrase follows standard grammar rules and is widely used.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

68%

Science

16%

Formal & Business

6%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Wiki

1%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "cast a glance" is a very common and grammatically correct idiomatic expression used to describe a brief look or observation. Ludwig AI confirms its proper usage and wide acceptance. It is most frequently found in news and media, science and formal business contexts. When using the phrase, ensure the tense is correct (past tense is "cast", not "casted") and avoid adding unnecessary prepositions. Alternatives such as "take a quick look" or "glance briefly" can be used depending on the desired level of formality.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

take a quick look

Direct and simple, highlighting the speed of the observation.

glance briefly

More descriptive, emphasizing the short duration of the look.

throw a glimpse

Highlights the brevity and fleeting nature of the look.

steal a look

Implies a secretive or surreptitious glance.

observe momentarily

More formal, emphasizing the short duration of the observation.

scan rapidly

Focuses on the action of quickly surveying something.

take a peek

More informal, suggesting a furtive or quick look.

give a once-over

Suggests a comprehensive, though potentially hurried, inspection.

have a gander

Informal and British, meaning to take a look.

take a squint

Suggests looking with effort, often due to poor visibility.

FAQs

How can I use "cast a glance" in a sentence?

"Cast a glance" is used to describe a quick or brief look. For example, "She "cast a glance" at her watch to check the time".

What's a more formal alternative to "cast a glance"?

More formal alternatives include "observe briefly" or "note momentarily", which emphasize the act of observing with attention for a short period.

Is it correct to say "casted a glance"?

No, the correct past tense of "cast" in this context is "cast". Therefore, you should say ""cast a glance"", not "casted a glance".

What is the difference between "cast a glance" and "stare"?

"Cast a glance" implies a brief look, whereas "stare" suggests a prolonged and fixed gaze. To ""cast a glance"" is a fleeting action, while staring involves sustained attention.