for a quick glimpse

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "for a quick glimpse" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use this phrase to indicate a brief or fleeting look at something. For example: "I stopped by the store to get a few things, but only had time for a quick glimpse around."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

Foreign reporters were hustled in for a quick glimpse.

The New York Times - Arts

No waiting in line, behind a thick crowd, for a quick glimpse of Catherine the Great's coronation dress.

The New York Times - Travel

A subnetwork that is composed solely of regulation factors (TFs and miRNAs) is extracted from the whole network for a quick glimpse.

BMC Systems Biology

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

The kitchen, which is a cramped, shambolic affair, judging from a quick glimpse, is also adept with the tandoor oven.

The New York Times

So getting undressed at night, it's not unusual for me to catch a quick glimpse of my naked body in the mirror.

Huffington Post

An exclusive video clip given to VICE by the director of What World Do You Live In? Rebecca Garrett, and its producer Doug Johnson Hatlem (a well-known street preacher and advocate for the homeless), provides a quick glimpse of what it was like in the detention centre.

Vice

Yet, we need only take a quick glimpse at the Mufti's Facebook page for his long list of responses to violence, whether it be in France, Istanbul or Parramatta.

The Guardian - Opinion

United fans got a quick glimpse of his talents when he made a substitute appearance for Mexico against England in their 3-1 defeat at Wembley on Monday, before he scored in a 2-1 friendlossoss against Holland last night.

Independent

United fans got a quick glimpse of his talents when he made a substitute appearance for Mexico against England in their 3-1 defeat at Wembley on Monday, before he scored as his side lost 2-1 to Holland last night.

The Guardian - Sport

A quick glimpse at the statistics tells us why.

Independent

To start, a quick glimpse of life beyond metropolitan groupthink.

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

To maintain a natural tone, avoid overusing this phrase in close proximity to similar expressions within the same piece of writing. Vary your language for stylistic effect.

Common error

Avoid using "for a quick glimpse" when describing a detailed or comprehensive observation. The word 'glimpse' inherently suggests incompleteness. Use alternative phrases like "for a thorough analysis" or "for a detailed view" when describing something looked at in depth.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "for a quick glimpse" functions as a prepositional phrase, often used adverbially to modify a verb or clause, indicating the manner in which something is observed. It emphasizes the brevity and superficiality of the observation. Ludwig examples showcase its use in describing fleeting views in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

67%

Science

33%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "for a quick glimpse" is a grammatically sound prepositional phrase used to describe a brief or hurried observation. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability. Its usage is more common in news and media contexts, with a neutral register. When writing, remember to use it to emphasize the brevity of an observation and avoid using it to describe detailed views. While not wrong, there are more formal and academic alternatives that you can use such as "for a cursory look".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

for a fleeting peek

Replaces "glimpse" with "peek" and "quick" with "fleeting", suggesting a very brief and casual look.

for a passing glance

Uses "passing" to describe the quick nature of the "glance".

for a swift view

Substitutes "quick" with "swift" and "glimpse" with "view", implying a rapid observation.

for a cursory look

Uses "cursory" to describe the quickness and lack of detail in the look.

for a brief sighting

Replaces "glimpse" with "sighting", which emphasizes the act of seeing something, and "quick" with "brief".

to briefly observe

Turns the phrase into a verb phrase, emphasizing the action of observing in a short amount of time.

to catch a fast look

Changes the structure to use "catch" and uses "fast" instead of "quick" and "look" instead of "glimpse".

to get a short look

Simplifies the phrase using more common words to convey the same meaning.

to obtain a momentary view

Offers a more formal and descriptive alternative, emphasizing the brevity and the act of obtaining a view.

to peek rapidly

Simplifies the phrase, focusing on the action of peeking and its speed.

FAQs

How can I use "for a quick glimpse" in a sentence?

You can use "for a quick glimpse" to describe briefly seeing something, like "I only had time "for a quick glimpse" of the exhibit before it closed."

What's a more formal way to say "for a quick glimpse"?

A more formal alternative to "for a quick glimpse" is "for a brief sighting" or "to obtain a momentary view", which sound more sophisticated.

What can I say instead of "for a quick glimpse" to emphasize speed?

If you want to emphasize speed, you could use "for a swift view" or "to catch a fast look" instead of "for a quick glimpse."

Is it appropriate to use "for a quick glimpse" in academic writing?

While "for a quick glimpse" is grammatically correct, it might be too informal for some academic contexts. Consider using phrases like "for a cursory look" depending on the formality required.