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once-over

/ˌwʌns ˈoʊvər/
/ˈwʌnsəʊvə/
IPA guide

If you quickly survey today's cafeteria offerings, you give them a once-over. After this swift once-over, you'll probably order the pizza again, like you do every day.

Once-over is an informal noun, a great way to describe any brief inspection, search, or examination. When you're signing a contract, it's smart to read it carefully rather than just giving it a once-over. But when you're choosing a piece of Halloween candy from the basket your neighbor is offering, it's fine to grab one after a once-over. This American English slang term was coined at the beginning of the twentieth century.

Definitions of once-over
  1. noun
    a swift cursory examination or inspection
    “I gave him the once-over
    synonyms: look-over
    see moresee less
    type of:
    examination, scrutiny
    the act of examining something closely (as for mistakes)
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