look-see: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2Informal, Colloquial
Quick answer
What does “look-see” mean?
A quick, informal inspection or examination.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A quick, informal inspection or examination.
A casual, often brief, act of looking at something to assess or check it; a reconnaissance.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No major difference in meaning or use. Perhaps slightly more established in British English due to Commonwealth military usage.
Connotations
Informal, practical, hands-on. It can sound slightly old-fashioned or whimsical to some younger speakers.
Frequency
Low frequency in both varieties, but understood. More likely to be encountered in spoken or informal written contexts than in formal prose.
Grammar
How to Use “look-see” in a Sentence
[Someone] had/took a look-see at [something][Someone] went for a look-seeVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “look-see” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- N/A
American English
- N/A
adverb
British English
- N/A
American English
- N/A
adjective
British English
- N/A
American English
- N/A
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used informally to suggest a quick site visit or project status check: 'Let's do a quick look-see at the new warehouse.'
Academic
Virtually never used. 'Preliminary examination' or 'initial observation' would be preferred.
Everyday
Used casually among friends or family: 'I'll just have a look-see in the cupboard for your keys.'
Technical
May be used in fields like construction, engineering, or IT for an informal diagnostic check before a formal procedure.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “look-see”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “look-see”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “look-see”
- Using it as a verb (e.g., 'I'll look-see it'). It is a noun only. Confusing it with 'look-see' as an imperative phrase (e.g., 'Look, see that bird!'), which is a different grammatical structure.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is exclusively a noun. You 'have a look-see' or 'take a look-see'. You cannot 'look-see something'.
No, it is firmly informal and colloquial. Avoid it in academic writing, official reports, or formal speeches.
'Look-see' is a noun meaning a specific instance of a quick, informal inspection. 'Look' is a more general verb or noun. 'Look-see' adds a tone of casualness and brevity.
Only in very informal internal emails with close colleagues where a casual tone is established. In most professional contexts, 'quick look', 'brief check', or 'preliminary review' are safer choices.
A quick, informal inspection or examination.
Look-see: in British English it is pronounced /ˌlʊk ˈsiː/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌlʊk ˈsi/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Take a butcher's (cockney rhyming slang: butcher's hook = look) is a similar informal synonym.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a detective saying, 'I'll just take a LOOK... and SEE what I can find.' The word itself is the mnemonic.
Conceptual Metaphor
SEEING IS KNOWING / EXAMINING. The compound emphasizes the visual action that leads to understanding.
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is the most natural context for using 'look-see'?