nervous glance

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "nervous glance" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a quick look or gaze that indicates anxiety or apprehension. Example: "She cast a nervous glance at the clock, worried that she would be late for her meeting."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

19 human-written examples

Each nervous glance portends some potential disaster.

The New York Times - Books

The make-up artist and I exchanged a nervous glance.

Independent

Jay ventures a nervous glance up at her.

The New Yorker

My twenties were presided over by Brecht and Benjamin, with the odd nervous glance at Adorno.

The Guardian

A guest at the table flicks a nervous glance at the bottle.

The Guardian - Film

She gave me a nervous glance, poured the coins into her pocket and disappeared into the crowd.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

41 human-written examples

A reporter cast nervous glances for the police.

The New York Times

With nervous glances and awkward handshakes, President Robert Mugabe's ZANU-P.F.

The New York Times

Nervous glances were exchanged as Ian Bell positively skipped out to the middle.

The Guardian - Sport

After a few nervous glances, the diners went around the table, each offering a similar confession.

The New York Times

"Quick!" he whispered, throwing nervous glances through the crack in the door.

The Guardian - Travel

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "nervous glance" to subtly indicate a character's anxiety or discomfort in a scene. It's more nuanced than stating they are nervous.

Common error

Avoid using "nervous glance" when a stronger expression of fear is more appropriate. If the character is terrified, consider "panicked stare" instead.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "nervous glance" functions as a noun phrase, where "nervous" modifies the noun "glance". It describes a specific type of look characterized by anxiety or unease. Ludwig confirms this usage in numerous examples.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

95%

Formal & Business

3%

Science

1%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "nervous glance" is a common and grammatically correct way to describe a quick look that reveals anxiety or unease. As Ludwig confirms, it's frequently used in news and media contexts to subtly convey a character's internal state. While alternatives like "anxious look" or "apprehensive gaze" exist, "nervous glance" offers a balanced and widely understood way to show, rather than tell, a character's feelings. Use it judiciously to add depth to your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

anxious look

Replaces "glance" with "look" to emphasize the visual aspect of anxiety.

apprehensive gaze

Substitutes "glance" with "gaze" and "nervous" with "apprehensive" to highlight a prolonged, fearful look.

uneasy peek

Uses "uneasy" instead of "nervous" and "peek" instead of "glance" for a quick, disturbed look.

fearful glimpse

Emphasizes the fear aspect by using "fearful" and "glimpse" suggests a brief, frightened look.

worried look

Replaces "nervous" with "worried" to suggest concern.

timid gaze

Uses "timid" to express a shy or hesitant nervousness.

hesitant look

Indicates a paused or reluctant visual expression of nervousness.

cautious glance

Highlights the careful and wary nature of the look.

restless gaze

Emphasizes the inability to stay still, reflecting inner anxiety.

disturbed look

Conveys the sense of being unsettled or bothered through a visual expression.

FAQs

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

You can use "nervous glance" to describe a quick look that expresses anxiety or unease. For example, "She cast a nervous glance at the approaching figure."

What are some alternatives to "nervous glance"?

Alternatives include "anxious look", "apprehensive gaze", or "uneasy peek", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to say "nervous glance" or "anxious glance"?

Both "nervous glance" and "anxious glance" are correct, but "nervous" often implies a more general unease, while "anxious" suggests a specific worry or fear.

What does a "nervous glance" typically indicate?

A "nervous glance" typically indicates that someone is feeling uneasy, apprehensive, or fearful about a situation or person. It's a subtle way to show internal feelings without explicitly stating them.