catch a glance

USAGE SUMMARY

"catch a glance" is a correct and usable part of a sentence in written English.
It means to briefly see or notice something. You can use "catch a glance" when describing a quick moment of observation or a fleeting glimpse of something. For example: - I caught a glance of the mysterious figure in the corner of my eye. - She caught a glance of her crush walking down the hall. - The detective caught a glance of the suspect in the crowd. - He couldn't resist the temptation and quickly caught a glance at the forbidden document.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

9 human-written examples

People hung on the bars of the office windows to catch a glance.

The New York Times - Sports

Anyone trying to catch a glance from the periphery sees a holographic image of interlocking chains.

The New York Times - Tech

"I was with my nephew and … hoping to catch a glance of a famous politician.

The Guardian

And if you occasionally catch a glance of yourself in the mirror and say "woah, what happened there?", that's okay, too.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

In the hours leading up to the Dalai Lama's session, Tibetan people lined up outside the gate to the front lawns, holding red roses, hopeful to catch a glance of their exiled spiritual leader on his way in.

The New York Times

As I toured the museum, I'd catch a glance, out of a window, of the Washington Monument, and I was reminded that this massive, beautiful building full of small, extraordinary moments of learning, joy and sorrow was deep in the heart of the Mall, occupying territory where so often African American stories have been absent.

The Washington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

51 human-written examples

Terrible in new and inventively terrible ways, ways that seemed to baffle the teacher and any classmates who caught a glance of my canvases," wrote Molly Lambert in an archetypal "This Recording" post last February, her words intercut at paragraph intervals with pretty thematic photos to rest your eyes on.

MIT Technology Review

During the evening ceremony, Murasaki Shikibu catches a glance of the queen, remarking that she appeared weary, having lost weight and gaining a pale complexion.

Wikipedia

I had caught a glance of Frings who looked like he had no idea what was happening, but whatever it was, it wasn't going to be good.

Huffington Post

He says questions his own physical attractiveness in the eyes of white men, or wonders if he never catches a glance from someone simply because he's Asian.

Vice

The "Newsroom" actor made the surprise announcement on Thursday night during a visit to "The Late Late Show with James Corden" ― if you're gonna do it, do it big ― when the host caught a glance of his wedding ring. .

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "catch a glance" to describe a brief, often unintentional, visual encounter. It's suitable for describing fleeting moments and subtle observations.

Common error

Avoid using "catch a glance" when the observation is prolonged or deliberate. The phrase implies a fleeting, almost accidental viewing, not a sustained gaze. If someone is staring, consider alternatives like "observe" or "watch."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "catch a glance" functions as an idiomatic expression used as a verb phrase. It describes the act of briefly seeing or noticing someone or something. It implies a fleeting or unintentional observation, as confirmed by Ludwig AI.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

68%

Wiki

12%

Science

6%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "catch a glance" is a grammatically correct and commonly used idiom to describe briefly seeing or noticing something. Ludwig AI confirms its appropriate usage in various contexts. While "catch a glance" is more frequent in News & Media sources, its versatility extends to Wiki and other general writings. If you're looking for alternatives, consider phrases like "get a glimpse", "take a peek", or "steal a look" to convey subtle nuances in meaning. Remember, it's best to use "catch a glance" when describing fleeting, almost unintentional, moments of observation.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

get a glimpse

Replaces "catch" with "get" and "glance" with "glimpse", both implying a brief or fleeting view.

take a peek

Substitutes "catch a glance" with the more informal idiom "take a peek", suggesting a quick and often surreptitious look.

steal a look

Emphasizes the surreptitious nature of the look, implying it's done when someone shouldn't be looking.

spot momentarily

Replaces the idiomatic phrase with a more literal description of seeing something briefly.

notice briefly

Uses simpler vocabulary to convey the idea of a short observation.

observe fleetingly

Similar to "notice briefly" but uses more formal language.

have a quick look

Offers a more direct and less figurative way to say the same thing.

see for a moment

Simple phrasing to describe a brief visual experience.

glimpse briefly

Combines the concept of a "glimpse" with the adverb "briefly" for emphasis.

descry momentarily

Uses the archaic word "descry" to add a touch of formality and implies careful observation even if brief.

FAQs

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

You can use "catch a glance" to describe a brief or fleeting visual impression. For example, "I "caught a glance" of the celebrity as she walked by".

What's the difference between "catch a glance" and "catch a glimpse"?

While similar, "catch a glimpse" often suggests seeing something partially or incompletely, whereas "catch a glance" simply implies a very brief look.

What are some alternatives to "catch a glance"?

Alternatives include "get a glimpse", "take a peek", or "steal a look", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "caught a glance" instead of "catch a glance"?

Yes, "caught a glance" is the past tense form of "catch a glance" and is perfectly correct when describing something that happened in the past.