throw a glance

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "throw a glance" is correct and can be used in written English.
It can be used to describe a quick, often reflexive, movement of the eyes in order to see something, to check on the subject, or as a reaction or response to something. Example: He threw a glance at her and quickly looked away.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Before analysing the obtained indicators, let us throw a glance on the vector w d of direct water use (106 m3) (the first column of Table 2).

Journal of Economic Structures

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

Lawrence threw a glance at Lucinda.

The New Yorker

That young man throws a glance his way, but follows the orders.

The New York Times

Moshe would have been completely crazy for me and wouldn't have even thrown a glance in the direction of that woman.

The New Yorker

She threw a glance down the hall and saw Lawrence stepping out of the large steel elevator with his wife, Lucinda.

The New Yorker

The wedding juggernaut is rolling, and quite unstoppable, when the camera, throwing a glance over the guests, happens upon Tej Puri (Rajat Kapoor) — one of the older relations — offering a flower to a young girl.

The New Yorker

Jürgen Klopp leaned back in his chair, threw a glance to the skies, and wore the expression of a man who had just been told the last bus home had been cancelled.

The Guardian - Sport

"What?" "Are you going to tell him to get the fuck?" the young man said, throwing a glance at me. "Are you going to tell him to get the fuck?" he said again.

The New Yorker

A few absentminded throws, a glance ahead at the horizon, and a tentative first step towards a new way to run.

Huffington Post

In retaliation, Weber threw a glancing punch to the back of Zetterberg's helmet, then grabbed Zetterberg by the back of the neck and thrust his face into the glass, like a professional wrestler throwing his opponent into the turnbuckle.

The New York Times

"This was a reckless and reactionary play on which Weber threw a glancing punch and then shoved Zetterberg's head into the glass," said Brendan Shanahan, the N.H.L.'s senior vice president of player safety, in a statement.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "throw a glance" to describe a quick, often reflexive, look. It implies less deliberate observation than "examine" or "study".

Common error

Avoid using "throw a glance" when describing a careful or prolonged observation. This phrase is best suited for quick, almost unconscious, looks.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "throw a glance" functions as an idiomatic verb phrase. It's used to describe the action of quickly looking at something or someone. Ludwig identifies it as a valid and usable expression.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Science

15%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "throw a glance" is a valid idiomatic expression used to describe a quick look. According to Ludwig, it is grammatically correct and suitable for written English. It is most commonly found in News & Media, Science, and Formal & Business contexts. While not extremely common, it is readily understood and accepted. The phrase can be used to effectively convey a brief and often involuntary act of looking. Consider using alternatives like "cast a quick look" or "take a fleeting glimpse" for subtle variations in meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

cast a quick look

Replaces "throw" with "cast" and "glance" with "look", emphasizing the speed of the action.

take a fleeting glimpse

Substitutes "throw a glance" with a more descriptive phrase emphasizing the brevity of the look.

steal a peek

Implies a surreptitious or secretive action of looking quickly.

shoot a glance

Uses "shoot" instead of "throw", giving a sense of quickness and direction.

give a cursory look

Replaces "throw a glance" with a phrase emphasizing the lack of thoroughness in the observation.

glance briefly

Condenses the phrase to an adverbial form, emphasizing the brevity of the glance.

peek quickly

Similar to "steal a peek" but without the implication of secrecy.

look momentarily

Focuses on the short duration of the act of looking.

cast an eye over

Uses a more idiomatic expression to describe a quick review or look.

take a brief survey

Suggests a slightly more comprehensive, though still quick, look.

FAQs

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

You can use "throw a glance" to describe a quick, often involuntary, look. For example, "He "threw a glance" at the clock and realized he was late."

What does "throw a glance" mean?

"Throw a glance" means to look at something quickly and briefly, often without much attention or intention.

Which is more appropriate: "cast a glance" or "throw a glance"?

Both "throw a glance" and "cast a glance" are acceptable and have similar meanings. The choice depends on personal preference, although "throw a glance" might imply a slightly more casual action.

What are some alternatives to "throw a glance"?

Some alternatives to "throw a glance" include "take a fleeting glimpse", "steal a peek", or "shoot a glance".