caught a glance

USAGE SUMMARY

"caught a glance" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It means to briefly see or notice something or someone. Example: As she walked past him, she caught a glance of his piercing blue eyes and couldn't help but blush.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 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

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

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 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

You can also catch a glance at what Alexx Henry Photography has done - here.

Huffington Post

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

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "caught a glance" to describe a brief, often unintentional, visual encounter. It suggests a fleeting moment of seeing something or someone.

Common error

Avoid using "caught a glance" to describe situations where you observed something for an extended period. This phrase implies a brief, quick look, not a prolonged observation.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "caught a glance" functions as a verbal phrase indicating a brief or quick visual perception. As Ludwig AI indicates, it's used to describe a fleeting moment of seeing someone or something. Similar examples in Ludwig reinforce this function.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "caught a glance" is a grammatically correct and commonly used expression to describe a brief visual encounter. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in written English. While "glimpsed" and "had a glimpse of" serve as good alternatives, it's essential to use the phrase appropriately to describe fleeting observations, as highlighted in the writing guidance. Primarily found in news and media, it maintains a neutral register suitable for various contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

had a glimpse of

Similar in meaning, but uses a slightly different structure.

glimpsed

Single word expressing a fleeting visual encounter.

briefly sighted

A more concise way of expressing the same idea.

spotted

Implies recognition in a brief sighting.

got a quick look at

More casual and emphasizes the speed of the visual encounter.

noticed briefly

More descriptive, emphasizing the short duration of observation.

witnessed briefly

Emphasizes the act of witnessing, albeit for a short time.

observed momentarily

More formal and emphasizes the act of observation.

perceived fleetingly

More formal and emphasizes the transient nature of the perception.

saw for a second

Emphasizes the brevity of the visual encounter.

FAQs

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

Use "caught a glance" to indicate a brief or fleeting view of something. For example, "I "caught a glance" of her as she walked by."

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

A more formal alternative could be "observed briefly" or "had a fleeting glimpse of". These alternatives maintain a similar meaning while sounding more sophisticated.

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

"Catch a glance" is the infinitive form, while "caught a glance" is the past tense. Use "caught" when describing a past event, and "catch" when referring to a potential or habitual action. For example, "I hope to "catch a glance" of the celebrity."

What is the difference between "caught a glimpse" and "caught a glance"?

While similar, "caught a glimpse" often implies seeing something incompletely or indistinctly, whereas "caught a glance" simply means a quick look. The phrase "caught a glimpse" focuses more on partially seeing something.