take a gander at

take a gander (at someone or something)

To glance or look at someone or something, especially in a quick, informal, or nonchalant manner. Hey, Barry, come take a gander at this engine and see if you can tell what's wrong with it. I took a gander, but nothing in the shop interested me. Wow, take a gander at that gorgeous guy at the bar!
See also: gander, someone, take
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

take a gander at

Look at, glance at, as in Will you take a gander at that woman's red hair! This slangy idiom, dating from the early 1900s, presumably came from the verb gander, meaning "stretch one's neck to see," possibly alluding to the long neck of the male goose. For a synonym, see take a look at.
See also: gander, take
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
See also:
  • take a gander at someone/something
  • take a look (at someone or something)
  • take a look at
  • have a look (at someone or something)
  • take a Captain Cook
  • have a Captain Cook
  • have a gander
  • take a gander
  • take a gander (at someone or something)
  • gander
References in periodicals archive
And though you'll likely have a long wait 'til he comes down off the vert ramp, or returns from one of his seemingly endless string of vacations, or decides his work is ready for the eyes of others to take a gander at, the final result is a record as vital as it is thoughtfully, respectfully, and meticulously collected and printed.
Take a gander at these steep, frosted slopes that shoot into icy craters (top).