looking us over

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "looking us over" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when describing someone examining or assessing a group of people, often to form an opinion or make a decision. Example: "The recruiter was looking us over during the interview, trying to gauge our suitability for the position."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

"You're the second man that's been in here this week looking us over," she said.

The New Yorker

Looking us over, he inquired "You guys twenty-one?" The three of us exchanged hasty glances, gulped in synch, and replied "Yeah.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

"He started to sit down, looked us over, then got this look in his eye," Mr. Nichols recalls.

The New York Times

The firemen looked us over, and we looked them over.

The New Yorker

When the train began moving, he opened his cabin door and looked us over.

The New York Times

They looked us over sharply and did not speak or smile.

The New York Times - Magazine

He smiled proudly and looked us over and said something I've thought of many times since.

The New Yorker

This happened a day or two after her father, the brigadier, came to visit — or, rather, to look us over.

The New Yorker

I was exhausted, all shopped out, but Mr. Bohmer had saved the best for last, a dealer so special that Josephine had had to look us over first to see if we passed muster.

The New York Times - Magazine

"I guess we decided on some sort of trial marriage with Blake… I said, 'Why don't you look us over and we'll look you over.' In this trial period he began to look into our headquarters relations and concluded there were real problems.

Harvard Business Review

He looks us over to determine our worthiness, reaches down his loincloth for a good, long scratch, then poses this brief, mysterious response: "Perseverance and optimism," he says, as he nods back into a trance.

Science Magazine

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "looking us over" when you want to convey that someone is carefully evaluating or assessing a group of people. It implies a level of scrutiny or judgment.

Common error

Avoid using "looking us over" in situations where a simple glance or casual observation is intended. The phrase suggests a more deliberate and evaluative gaze.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "looking us over" functions as a verb phrase, where "looking" is a verb and "us over" acts as an adverbial particle, modifying the verb. It describes the action of examining or assessing a group of people. Ludwig confirms this is usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

67%

HuffPost

16%

The New Yorker

17%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "looking us over" is a grammatically sound and semantically descriptive verb phrase used to indicate someone's act of carefully examining or assessing a group of individuals. Ludwig confirms its proper usage in written English. While not exceedingly formal, it maintains a neutral register suitable for a variety of contexts, including news and media. Alternative phrases like "examining us" or "assessing our group" may be employed to modulate the tone or emphasis. It's important to consider the context to ensure the phrase aligns with the intended level of scrutiny or evaluation.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

examining us

Replaces 'looking' with a more formal synonym, focusing on a detailed inspection.

assessing our group

Substitutes the verb with 'assessing' and specifies 'group' for clarity.

inspecting us carefully

Emphasizes the thoroughness of the examination with the addition of 'carefully'.

scrutinizing our team

Uses 'scrutinizing' to suggest a critical and detailed observation of the 'team'.

evaluating our performance

Focuses on assessing the 'performance' aspect of the group.

giving us the once-over

An idiomatic alternative that suggests a quick but thorough look.

sizing us up

Suggests an assessment of capabilities or potential.

checking us out

A more casual way of saying someone is observing or evaluating the group.

giving us an appraisal

Implies a formal assessment or evaluation.

casting an eye over us

An alternative way of saying someone is casually observing the group.

FAQs

How can I use "looking us over" in a sentence?

You can use "looking us over" to describe someone assessing a group. For example, "The manager was looking us over to decide who would lead the project."

What does "looking us over" mean?

It means someone is carefully examining or assessing a group of people, often to form an opinion or make a decision.

What are some alternatives to "looking us over"?

Alternatives include "examining us", "assessing us", or "evaluating us", depending on the context.

Is "looking us over" a formal or informal expression?

"Looking us over" is generally considered a neutral expression, suitable for both informal and semi-formal contexts. More formal alternatives exist, such as "examining us".