glancing

glance around (some thing or place)

To view one's surroundings, often in a fleeting or furtive manner. I glanced around and didn't see anyone, so I stole two cookies from the cookie jar. Let's go sightseeing, huh? I was only able to glance around earlier.
See also: around, glance, thing

glance away

1. To avert one's eyes very quickly, especially in a furtive, nervous, or secretive manner. I could tell by the way he kept glancing away that he was lying.
2. To deflect away after striking some surface at a shallow angle. He raised his shield, and the incoming arrows glanced away harmlessly into the bushes.
See also: away, glance

glance back

1. To look quickly over one's shoulder at someone or something located behind one. We both glanced back after hearing that loud crash. On her first day, my daughter ran off into the preschool without even glancing back.
2. To return one's gaze to someone or something. I started walking down the docks and only glanced back when Joe began insistently calling my name.
See also: back, glance

glance back at (someone or something)

1. To look quickly over one's shoulder at someone or something located behind one. We both glanced back at the work site after hearing that loud crash. On her first day, my daughter ran off into the preschool without even glancing back at me.
2. To return one's gaze to someone or something. I started walking down the docks and only glanced back at Joe when he began insistently calling my name.
See also: back, glance

glance down

1. To look downward at someone or something positioned physically below one. I clung to the rope after I made the mistake of glancing down at the pit below. I glanced down at my test sheet and realized that I'd forgotten to write my name on it.
2. To look downward out of shyness, embarrassment, or shame. The little girl glanced down and grabbed her mom's hand when I tried to talk to her. I glanced down when Mom told me how disappointed she was in my grades.
See also: down, glance

glance down at (someone or something)

To look downward at someone or something positioned physically below one. I clung to the rope after I made the mistake of glancing down at the pit below. I glanced down at my test sheet and realized that I'd forgotten to write my name on it. When we glanced down at the people standing below, they looked like ants.
See also: down, glance

glance off (of) (someone or something)

To bounce or ricochet off of someone or something. The ball narrowly missed the window and glanced off the wall instead. Hey, watch it—your stupid paper airplane glanced off my head! The snowball glanced off of Molly and caused her to cry.
See also: glance, off

glance over (someone or something)

To look at someone or something quickly and perfunctorily. I always glance over my desk to make sure I have everything before I leave the office at night. I just glanced over him, so I don't remember if he was wearing a hat or not.
See also: glance, over

glance over at (someone or something)

To look quickly and briefly at someone or something who is not immediately adjacent to oneself. I glanced over at Tom to see if he was having as much trouble with the test as I was. If you lose your place during your lecture, just glance over at the notes on the whiteboard.
See also: glance, over

glance through (something)

To casually read through a document, magazine, or book without paying close attention to it. I had just started glancing through a magazine when the receptionist called my name. Can you glance through this proposal? I just need to know if there are any glaring issues.
See also: glance, through
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

glance back

 (at someone)
1. to look quickly at someone who is looking at you. He glanced back at Mary, so he could remember her smile. She hoped he would notice her but he never even glanced back.
2. to look quickly at someone who is behind you. Dan glanced back at the man chasing him and ran on even faster. He glanced back and ran faster.
See also: back, glance

glance down (at something)

to look quickly downward at something. Sherri glanced down at her watch and then pressed on the accelerator. She glanced down and hurried off.
See also: down, glance
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.
See also:
  • glance around
  • glance around (some thing or place)
  • rat around
  • glance away
  • snuck
  • sneak around
  • slink around
  • glance at
  • glance at (someone or something)
  • sneak up on
References in periodicals archive
Through glancing at visual displays featuring historical analyses and projections, the savvy manager can tweak his buildings to achieve maximum efficiency, while keeping his buildings safe and in compliance with benchmarking requirements.
Managers putting problems in checkmate
First the reflectivity is measured with neutrons glancing off the front surface of the material, and then repeat with neutrons glancing off the back surface.
A NEW "TWIST" ON NEUTRON REFLECTOMETRY: IMAGING EXCHANGE-SPRING MAGNETS
Quickly glancing through this guide, I noticed that it does not list all health food stores in the country; however, the book is certainly a useful travel tool.
HEALTHY JOURNEYS -- A COMPREHENSIVE GUIDE TO HEALTH FOOD STORES IN THE UNITED STATES
That's anachronism, defined in Merriam-Webster's Tenth as "An error in chronology; esp: a chronological misplacing of persons, events, objects or customs in regard to each other." ("Let's saddle up, boys," drawled Jesse, glancing at his Rolex.)
The writes of spring bring vialest of the viles
About 79 percent of respondents admitted to glancing at an incoming call or text while driving, and 72 percent said they've glanced at phone notifications while behind the wheel.
Millennials Drive While Using Cellphones at Worse Rate Than Gen X, Boomers: Liberty Mutual
He turned to go, glancing back at the brothers huddled beyond the fence line.
Growing up North
And from the fourth, an under-pressure Grant McCann flicked a glancing header into his own net.
Football: Grayson shuts door; CARLISLE 1 CHELTENHAM 1
Judge David Varsley adjourned sentence for 48 hours, saying: "There is a real difference between composing a message and glancing to see whether he has received one.
Mobile trucker killed driver
Sgt Robert Murphy, 38, said: "He was glancing down to read snippets of the paper and glancing back up."
SPEED ALL ABOUT IT
"The sewing's too good for a child to have done it," she remarked, glancing immediately up at Seamus, who was suddenly enthralled with the ceiling's plaster job.
Bless us, O Lord, and these thy beans; a young girl's discovery becomes too much for her family to stomach