take a gander

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "take a gander" is an idiom which is commonly used in written English.
It means to take a look or have a look, and can be used in almost any context. For example, "Take a gander at this awesome car I just bought!".

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Customers just don't take a gander at it that way.

Cornell University

Then take a gander at the wine program.

The Washington Post

B) "You can take a gander at my withers".

The New York Times

For these and more, take a gander at the Midtownlunch.com blog.

The New York Times - Food

Take a gander at the numbers and you quickly understand why.

The New York Times

Take a gander at Baldwin's Saturday Night Live sketch on the matter if you haven't already.

The New Yorker

Take a gander with your very own peepers if you are the incredulous type.

The Guardian - Sport

Take a gander around town, and Cardiff residents may have noticed something bright yellow and black.

The Guardian

While you're on my Instagram, take a gander at what I look like.

The New Yorker

I liked "One taking a gander" for GOOSE, and "Zero personality?" for OPERATOR (take a gander at your phone pad) in particular.

The New York Times

Take a gander at Smoking withdrawal symptoms and how to quit in the Go Ask Alice! archives for more detailed information.

Columbia University

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "take a gander", ensure the context aligns with the phrase's slightly playful and informal nature. Avoid using it in highly formal or serious situations where a more direct term like "examine" or "inspect" would be more appropriate.

Common error

Avoid using "take a gander" in academic papers, business reports, or other formal documents. Its informal tone can undermine the seriousness and credibility of your writing. Opt for more neutral alternatives like "examine" or "review".

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "take a gander" is as a verb phrase used idiomatically to invite someone to look at something. Ludwig confirms this usage across various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

76%

Academia

10%

Science

7%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Encyclopedias

1%

Wiki

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "take a gander" is an idiomatic phrase that means "to take a look". Ludwig AI confirms it’s grammatically correct and quite common, especially in News & Media, though usage should be tempered by considering the formality of the context. For more formal situations, consider alternatives such as "examine" or "inspect". Remember to avoid overuse of colloquialisms in formal writing to maintain clarity and credibility.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

have a look

This alternative is a more straightforward and common way of saying to look at something.

take a look

This alternative is very similar in meaning but slightly more formal and direct.

check it out

This alternative is more informal and often used to draw attention to something interesting or exciting.

cast an eye

This alternative is a slightly more figurative and less common way to suggest looking at something.

give it a glance

This alternative implies a quick and brief look.

peep at it

This alternative suggests a quick or sneaky look.

give it a once-over

This alternative suggests a comprehensive but quick examination.

scrutinize it

This alternative implies a thorough and critical examination.

examine it

This alternative is a more formal way of saying to look at something carefully.

inspect it

This alternative suggests a detailed and methodical examination.

FAQs

What does "take a gander" mean?

"Take a gander" is an idiomatic expression that means to take a look or examine something. It's a slightly informal way to suggest that someone should look at something.

How can I use "take a gander" in a sentence?

You can use "take a gander" to invite someone to look at something, for example: "Take a gander at this new car I bought!"

What can I say instead of "take a gander"?

You can use alternatives like "have a look", "take a look", or "check it out" depending on the context.

Is "take a gander" appropriate for formal writing?

No, "take a gander" is generally considered informal. In formal writing, it's better to use more neutral alternatives like "examine" or "inspect".