👀 Give (Someone/Something) The Once-Over, To: The Art of the Quick Assessment ⚡️
Definition
give (someone/something) the once-over, to - To make a quick assessment or examination. An Americanism dating from the early twentieth century, once-over was defined in Dialect Notes in 1915 as “a glance.” In Elizabeth Bowen’s novel The Death of the Heart (1938), “Daphne gave the rest of the cakes a rather scornful once-over.”
🌟 Related Terms and Synonyms:
- Eyeball it - Give it a rough estimate or look
- Take a gander - Have a look at something
- Glance over - Take a quick look
- Give the once-through - Another way to say a quick check
- Scan - Rapidly look over
🧐 Similar Expressions:
- Look over in a jiffy
- Run your eye over
- Give the once-through
- Do a quick sweep
📚 Examples in Literature:
- “Pride and Prejudice” by Jane Austen: Mr. Darcy gave the ball a quick once-over before retreating to the corner.
- “To Kill a Mockingbird” by Harper Lee: Scout gave the classroom a scornful once-over.
🎬 Movie References:
- “The Devil Wears Prada” - Miranda Priestly gives new employees a scathing once-over.
- “Sherlock Holmes” - Sherlock is a master at giving criminals a thorough once-over.
🎵 Song Suggestions:
- “Take a Look Around” by Limp Bizkit
- “Quick Glance” by Mahalia
Jargon and Usage:
- Corporate Speak: “I’ll give that report the once-over and get back to you.”
- Home Improvement: “Before buying the house, the inspector gave it the once-over.”
Humor-Filled Quotes:
- “He gave me the once-over—I guess I didn’t pass the sniff test!” 🐕
Proverb:
- “A quick look saves a second glance.” - Traditional wisdom
Suggested Reads:
- Gladwell, Malcolm. Blink: The Power of Thinking Without Thinking - A book on the power of quick judgements.
- Christie, Agatha. The Mysterious Affair at Styles - A classic detective novel filled with quick assessments!
### Which idiom means ‘a quick assessment’?
- [x] Give the once-over
- [ ] Look like a million bucks
- [ ] Right off the bat
- [ ] Fit as a fiddle
> **Explanation:** ‘Give the once-over’ is the apt idiom for a quick assessment, whereas the others describe other scenarios or conditions.
### The term 'once-over' originated in which century?
- [ ] 18th Century
- [ ] 19th Century
- [x] 20th Century
- [ ] 21st Century
> **Explanation:** The term 'once-over' was defined in Dialect Notes in 1915, making its origin early 20th century.
### In which of these novels did the character give a 'once-over'?
- [ ] War and Peace
- [x] The Death of the Heart
- [ ] Great Expectations
- [ ] The Hobbit
> **Explanation:** Elizabeth Bowen’s novel The Death of the Heart includes the line about giving the cakes a ‘scornful once-over.’
### True or False: ‘Once-over’ can be used to assess both people and things.
- [x] True
- [ ] False
> **Explanation:** True, the idiom is versatile and can be used for brief assessments of beings and objects alike.
### Which of these synonyms means a quick look?
- [ ] Deep dive
- [x] Take a gander
- [ ] In-depth analysis
- [ ] Lengthy study
> **Explanation:** ‘Take a gander’ is a casual way of implying a quick look or once-over. The others suggest more thorough examinations.
Inspirational Farewell: “Remember, sometimes the best insights come from a single quick glance. Trust your instincts, and don’t be afraid to give life the once-over. 😊”
