[General] giving me the once-over

[vil]

Dear teacher,

Would you help me to make the proper choice of the interpretation of the word in bold in the following sentence?

Anyway, when I sat down and ordered a bowl of soup I saw the truck driver giving me the once-over.

giving me the once-over = staring at me, measuring me with a glance

Thanks for your efforts.

Regards,

V

 

[TheParser]

Dear teacher,

Would you help me to make the proper choice of the interpretation of the word in bold in the following sentence?

Anyway, when I sat down and ordered a bowl of soup I saw the truck driver giving me the once-over.

giving me the once-over = staring at me, measuring me with a glance

Thanks for your efforts.

Regards,

V

***** NOT A TEACHER *****


Vil,


(1) I think that you are 100% correct.

(2) I think (repeat: think) that young people might say:

I saw the truck driver checking me out.

Thank you

P.S. I am sure that you realize that "giving me the once-over"

and "checking me out" must be used with great caution. It

often (almost always?) implies looking at someone with

(how do I say this?) romantic feelings.

 

[vil]

Hi TheParser,

Happy New Year!

Thank you for your kindness. What fun is to read your post!

I agree 100% with your version.

Here are some more examples of the usage of the expression in question:

Well, come on, come on! Get your hat on, and let’s go out and give the town, the one-over. (S. Lewis, “Elmer Gantry”)

You are a good steady driver, and the road’s perfectly safe – if you give people the once-over before you pick them up. (S. Lewis, “Free Air”)

But as soon as we get to New York I’ll fly down to Texas to give the outfit the once-over. (W. S. Maugham, “The Razor’s Edge”)

give the once-over(somebody or something) = examine critically, take an all-round view of somebody or something

Thanks for your efforts.

Regards,

V

 

[TheParser]

Hi TheParser,

Happy New Year!

Thank you for your kindness. What fun is to read your post!

I agree 100% with your version.

Here are some more examples of the usage of the expression in question:

Well, come on, come on! Get your hat on, and let’s go out and give the town, the one-over. (S. Lewis, “Elmer Gantry”)

You are a good steady driver, and the road’s perfectly safe – if you give people the once-over before you pick them up. (S. Lewis, “Free Air”)

But as soon as we get to New York I’ll fly down to Texas to give the outfit the once-over. (W. S. Maugham, “The Razor’s Edge”)

give the once-over(somebody or something) = examine critically, take an all-round view of somebody or something

Thanks for your efforts.

Regards,

V

Thanks for teaching me that "the once-over" is not necessarily

connected with "romance." In fact, you reminded me that neither

is "check out" necessarily connected with "romance."

Tom: Check out that dude with the red hair.

Martha: Yeah. That red hair doesn't go with well with his

yellow pants.

As you reminded me: it's always the context of the situation.

Thanks again.