peek through a window

USAGE SUMMARY

"peek through a window" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it when you want to imply that someone is taking a short, surreptitious look at something on the other side of the window. For example, "As they drove past the house, they peeked through the window to get a glimpse of the interior."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

IN her office on the 19th floor of 120 Wall Street, Patricia M. Rivera can peek through a window and catch a glimpse of the East River.

The New York Times

But just down the street is Streit's Matzo Factory, where I peek through a window at two men making matzo (unleavened bread eaten during Passover) on a machine that has been chugging away since before the Second World War.

Independent

Somehow she just knew when to hang out near the press secretary's office, or peek through a window, or loiter near a certain doorway.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

The collection was solid, with day dresses in navy silk faille and creamy cotton that touched on the transparency theme, their sheer hems like dirty peeks through a window blind.

The New York Times

Homemade devices like a bowl filled with water, a fragment of lace or a leafy branch are used to frame faces and body parts, which are then projected in simulcast video to suggest a child peering through foliage, a boy peeking through a window or a terrified girl staring into a puddle.

The New York Times

Standing on a ladder and peeking through a window, he sees oh-so creepy drawings of Jess look-alikes with googly eyes and plenty of weaponry.

Huffington Post

Her conversational tone pulls the reader in, so that I felt like a new friend she was explaining her customs to, and not an unwelcome voyeur peeking through a window.

Huffington Post

Women are not permitted inside, he said — they may only peek through a small barred window in the tomb wall — but he made an exception for Ms. Kumari.

The New York Times

Baker lets us peek "through a tiny, smudged window" onto this world of nymphs and fancy men and their lecherous clients.

The New York Times - Books

Now, more than 160 years later, Hernán Burbano of the Max Planck Institute for Developmental Biology and co-workers have combined the power of next-generation sequencing technology with the availability of herbarium samples to peek through a 50-year window of history at the genome of the pathogen that contributed to so much human suffering (Yoshida et al., 2013).

eLife

He tried to keep track of their progress by periodically peeking through a school window.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "peek through a window" when you want to convey a quick, often surreptitious, look. It implies brevity and sometimes a hidden or secretive motive.

Common error

Avoid using "peek through a window" in formal or professional writing if a more direct and neutral term like "look" or "observe" would be more appropriate. "Peek" can sometimes sound informal or childish.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "peek through a window" primarily functions as a verb phrase. It describes an action, specifically the act of looking briefly or surreptitiously through a window. Ludwig examples demonstrate its use in narrative and descriptive contexts.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Formal & Business

20%

Science

20%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "peek through a window" is a grammatically sound and understandable expression, although Ludwig shows it is not as common as other alternatives. It's best suited for situations where you want to convey a quick, perhaps secretive, look. While Ludwig AI confirms its usability, remember that in formal writing, a more neutral alternative like "look" or "observe" might be more appropriate. The phrase appears frequently in news and media, indicating its general acceptability across different contexts. Keep this in mind when choosing whether to "peek", "look", or "observe".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

peep through a window

Replaces "peek" with "peep", suggesting a similar action of looking quickly or secretly.

glimpse through a window

Replaces "peek" with "glimpse", indicating a very brief or partial view.

peer through a window

Employs "peer" which suggests looking intently or with difficulty.

glance through a window

Substitutes "peek" with "glance", indicating a quick look.

spy through a window

Replaces "peek" with "spy", implying a clandestine or secretive observation.

look through a window

Replaces "peek" with the more general term "look", removing the connotation of secrecy or quickness.

watch through a window

Uses "watch" instead of "peek", implying a more prolonged observation.

observe through a window

Substitutes "peek" with "observe", suggesting a more formal and deliberate act of watching.

check through a window

Using "check" indicates a brief inspection.

view through a window

Using "view" indicates the act of seeing something.

FAQs

How can I use "peek through a window" in a sentence?

You can use "peek through a window" to describe a quick or secretive look. For example, "She "peeked through a window" to see if anyone was home."

What's a more formal alternative to "peek through a window"?

For a more formal tone, consider using "observe through a window" or "look through a window" depending on the context.

What does "peek through a window" imply?

"Peek through a window" often implies a brief, sometimes secretive, look. It suggests the person is trying to see something without being noticed.

Is it always appropriate to use "peek through a window"?

While grammatically correct, "peek through a window" might not be suitable for all contexts. In formal writing, consider alternatives like "observe through a window" if a more neutral tone is needed.