fleeting look

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "fleeting look" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a brief or momentary glance at something or someone. Example: "She caught a fleeting look of sadness in his eyes before he turned away."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

17 human-written examples

Kessel smiled, yawned, then offered a fleeting look of resignation.

The New York Times - Sports

But Murray is only allowed a fleeting look.

The Guardian - Sport

Two of those moving pieces returned, offering a fleeting look at much of the roster the Knicks expect to maintain.

The New York Times - Sports

A passer-by, throwing only a fleeting look over the place, would have been completely unaware of it.

The New Yorker

"Glimpse," which began performances on Thursday night at Danspace Project, is a fleeting look into a narrow world that feels a bit like a Hungarian cafe.

The New York Times - Arts

So that when I told him that I had seen it as a child, a fleeting look of longing crossed his face.

The New York Times - Magazine

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

40 human-written examples

According to Avent's account, Flanagan was more concerned with his fleeting looks than with racism.

Vice

Noseda can still look forward to Fleeting Spirit, who has a live chance in the Nunthorpe, but he was inclined to play down her chances today.

The Guardian - Sport

The world will give us a fleeting fresh look.

Huffington Post

He turned out to be a tall, ponytailed Swede, whom I'll call Lars: a man so polite that the only sign of distress he ever showed was a fleeting, pained look.

Vice

"I wanted to explore the stark paradox in photography itself, which is capturing small deaths and fleeting memories, looking back in time and freeze framing".

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "fleeting look" to add a sense of transience or impermanence to a scene or description. It is particularly effective when describing emotions or subtle changes in a person's expression.

Common error

Avoid using "fleeting look" when you want to convey a prolonged or intense observation. The word "fleeting" inherently implies a very short duration, so it wouldn't be appropriate for describing something you observed for a long time.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "fleeting look" functions as a noun phrase, where "fleeting" acts as an adjective modifying the noun "look". It describes the type of look, emphasizing its brief duration. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

88%

Wiki

6%

Formal & Business

2%

Less common in

Science

1%

Encyclopedias

1%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "fleeting look" is a common and grammatically sound phrase used to describe a brief or momentary visual impression. Ludwig AI confirms it's a good option if you aim to capture a sense of transience. Predominantly found in news and media contexts, the phrase enjoys a neutral tone suitable for various writing styles. Remember to use it when describing brief observations and to differentiate it from more prolonged gazes. Consider alternatives like "brief glance" or "quick glimpse" for similar meanings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

fleeting glimpse

Synonymous, emphasizes a brief and incomplete view.

brief glance

Focuses on the quickness and lack of duration of the look.

quick glimpse

Highlights the speed and incompleteness of the visual experience.

momentary glance

Emphasizes the very short duration of the look.

transient gaze

Suggests the look is temporary and doesn't last.

passing glance

Implies the look was casual and not lingering.

cursory inspection

Highlights the superficial and rapid nature of the visual assessment.

hasty peek

Indicates a hurried and perhaps secretive look.

swift look

Emphasizes the speed and efficiency of the look.

split-second glance

Highlights the extreme brevity of the look, quantifying it with "split-second".

FAQs

What does "fleeting look" mean?

A "fleeting look" refers to a quick, brief, or momentary glance at something or someone. It implies that the look was not prolonged or sustained.

What can I say instead of "fleeting look"?

You can use alternatives like "brief glance", "quick glimpse", or "momentary glance" depending on the context.

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

Here's an example: "She caught a "fleeting look" of sadness in his eyes before he turned away."

Is "fleeting look" formal or informal?

"Fleeting look" is a neutral expression and can be used in both formal and informal contexts. The appropriateness depends on the overall tone of the writing.