once-over
Americannoun
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a quick look, examination, or appraisal.
-
a quick, superficial job.
He gave the car just a once-over with a rag.
noun
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a quick examination or appraisal
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a quick but comprehensive piece of work
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a violent beating or thrashing (esp in the phrase give ( a person or thing ) the (or a ) once-over )
Etymology
Origin of once-over
An Americanism dating back to 1910–15
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
But once a module is shipped to a site, local inspectors will often do their own once-over.
From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 14, 2026
Less costly inspections will still have someone under the car doing all the things that many sellers have already done – looking for leaks, inspecting axles and tires, and giving the car a good once-over.
From Seattle Times • Apr. 17, 2024
Reader: I’m trying to reenter the workforce after some time away, and have given my résumé a good once-over.
From Washington Post • Nov. 17, 2022
After 10 minutes I give my work a good once-over.
From New York Times • Sep. 24, 2022
Snuffy swiveled his head, giving the dilapidated house a skeptical once-over.
From "The Milagro Beanfield War" by John Nichols
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
