catch a glance of

USAGE SUMMARY

"catch a glance of" is correct and can be used in written English.
You can use this phrase to describe a quick look or brief glimpse of something, usually something that's difficult to get a full view of. For example, "As she walked by, I managed to catch a glance of her face."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

"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 flushed the last of the ice cream down the toilet, I happened to catch a glance of my face in the oversized vanity mirror.

Huffington Post

Over the summer, her snapshot was frequently taken by joggers and homeowners excited to catch a glance of the local celebrity and her brood of cubs.

Los Angeles Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

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

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

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

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

The New York Times - Tech

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "catch a glance of" when you want to emphasize the fleeting or unintentional nature of seeing something. For instance, use it to describe seeing someone famous in a crowd or a quick view of scenery from a moving vehicle.

Common error

While similar, "catch a glimpse of" implies a more intentional, though still brief, viewing experience. "Catch a glance of" often suggests an even quicker, more accidental observation.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "catch a glance of" functions as a verb phrase, typically used to describe the action of briefly seeing something. As Ludwig AI explains, this phrase describes a quick look or brief glimpse of something, usually something that's difficult to get a full view of.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Wiki

20%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Science

3%

Academia

1%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "catch a glance of" is a grammatically sound and relatively common phrase used to describe briefly seeing something. According to Ludwig AI, this phrase is used to describe a quick look or brief glimpse of something, usually something that's difficult to get a full view of. Predominantly found in news and media contexts, it maintains a neutral register, suitable for various writing styles. When composing, remember that while similar to "catch a glimpse of", it implies an even quicker and often unintentional viewing experience. Related phrases like "get a glimpse of" offer alternatives to express a similar meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

get a glimpse of

Focuses on obtaining a quick, often incomplete, view.

glimpse momentarily

Combines the idea of a brief look with a sense of chance.

see momentarily

Emphasizes the short duration of the visual experience.

spot briefly

Highlights the act of noticing something quickly.

perceive for an instant

Highlights the very short timeframe of the visual perception.

notice fleetingly

Stresses the ephemeral nature of the observation.

detect a fleeting view of

Emphasizes the act of uncovering a quick observation.

observe in passing

Indicates that the observation happened while moving or transitioning.

take a quick look at

Describes a rapid action of directing one's gaze.

have a peek at

Suggests a clandestine or surreptitious view.

FAQs

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

You can use "catch a glance of" to describe briefly seeing something or someone, as in, "I managed to "catch a glance of" the celebrity as they walked into the building."

What's a similar phrase to "catch a glance of"?

Similar phrases include "get a glimpse of", "see momentarily", or "spot briefly", all suggesting a quick or incomplete view.

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

Yes, "caught a glance of" is the past tense form and is perfectly correct when describing a past event where you briefly saw something.

What is the difference between "catch a glimpse of" and "catch a glance of"?

While similar, "catch a glimpse of" implies a slightly longer or more intentional viewing, whereas "catch a glance of" suggests a very quick, often unintentional, observation.