caught a look

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "caught a look" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when describing a moment when someone sees or notices something, often unexpectedly or briefly. Example: "As she walked by, he caught a look at her smile that made his heart skip a beat."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

6 human-written examples

I was playing in the parking lot then, so I caught a look of him.

The New Yorker

While politicking in Chelsea last week, Mr. de Blasio caught a look at his wife's geometrically patterned yellow, white and beige dress from a few feet away and shouted, "Chirlane, I love your dress.

The New York Times

I swear I caught a look of unbridled ecstasy on his furry little face as he dug his Lilliputian hands into the sugar and shoveled it into his mouth.

The New York Times - Travel

Apparently the cutie -- who's 2 months, 12 days old, Dad specified, not that he's counting -- caught a look at herself recently and figured out, hey, that's me.

Los Angeles Times

"When we went in his bathroom to clean him up, he caught a look at himself and he was like, "I look good for forty".

Vice

One of those nurses was Angela Washek, who first caught a look at the heartwarming message early Sunday and snapped the photo that has since spread throughout the country.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

"Two truths approach each other," he writes in "Preludes" (translation by May Swenson), "One comes from within, / one comes from without — and where they meet you have the chance / to catch a look at yourself".

The New York Times - Books

At the Westin, doormen in charcoal suits smiled and offered to get taxis for guests, and craned their necks up Eighth Avenue to catch a look at the clutch of police up the block.

The New York Times

They were self-conscious and completely un-self-conscious all at once, trying to catch a look at their reflections in the big glass doors as they headed out to the playground and began screaming.

The New York Times

(You can catch a look at an exclusive image of the film, complete with Henry and those accessories, at the top of the post).

Los Angeles Times

Then I walked several blocks to reach my next goal, the sleek Museu d' Art Contemporani de Barcelona (the Barcelona Contemporary Museum of Art), to catch a look at the work of internationally known modern artists such as Barcelona painter Antoni Tàpies.

Los Angeles Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "caught a look" to describe a fleeting or unintentional observation, especially when the subject is not the primary focus of attention. For example, "He caught a look of disappointment on her face as he left."

Common error

Avoid using "caught a look" when describing a prolonged or intentional observation. Phrases like "studied" or "examined" are more appropriate in such cases.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "caught a look" functions as a verb phrase indicating the act of briefly or unintentionally seeing something. As Ludwig AI points out, this phrase is generally correct and usable in written English. It suggests a fleeting observation, rather than a prolonged gaze.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "caught a look" effectively conveys a fleeting or unintentional visual observation. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability. While "caught a look" is most frequently used in news and media, making it versatile for various writing styles. Remember to use it when describing brief, unplanned observations and choose more descriptive alternatives for deliberate or prolonged viewing. "Glimpsed", "spotted" and "caught sight of" can be used as suitable alternative depending on the context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

caught sight of

Replaces "look" with "sight" and adds "of", retaining the original meaning.

got a glimpse of

Uses 'glimpse' as a noun to indicate a brief look.

glimpsed

This alternative replaces the entire phrase with a single verb that conveys a brief or fleeting view.

stole a glance at

Implies a quick, secretive look.

spotted

This alternative implies a quick and often unexpected sighting.

had a peek at

Informal way of saying someone looked quickly.

noticed

This is a more general term for becoming aware of something visually.

witnessed briefly

Replaces the visual aspect of "look" with the act of witnessing something quickly.

observed

Implies a more deliberate act of watching and noticing.

perceived

Suggests a more subtle or indirect visual awareness.

FAQs

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

Use "caught a look" to describe briefly noticing someone or something. For example, "She "caught a look" at the stranger in the crowd".

What can I say instead of "caught a look"?

You can use alternatives like "glimpsed", "spotted", or "caught sight of depending on the context".

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

The correct tense depends on the context. "Catch a look" implies a future or habitual action, while ""caught a look"" refers to a past event.

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

"Caught a glimpse" and ""caught a look"" are very similar. "Glimpse" emphasizes the brevity and incompleteness of the view, whereas "look" is more general.