snap judgment

Idioms  

1. A hurried or impetuous decision or finding, as in George was known for making snap judgments on personnel questions; he rarely bothered to investigate further. This expression, which uses snap in the sense of “quick,” was first recorded in 1841.

---

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

snap judgment

She can peg a person’s height at a glance and sum up their prospects in a pitiless snap judgment.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 12, 2025

His snap judgment endangers a planet's civilian population, leaving her to fix the crisis he has created.

From Salon ● Apr. 10, 2024

Defense attorney Craig Harbaugh asserted the FBI was desperate to find the person responsible and made a snap judgment, focusing on Beal and ignoring other evidence and suspects.

From Seattle Times ● Jun. 17, 2022

My snap judgment said: “Is this parent serious right now? Pushing dance? For a 2-year-old?”

From Washington Post ● Dec. 14, 2021

But he is also a great salesman because he understands when to put the brakes on that process: when to consciously resist a particular kind of snap judgment.

From "Blink" by Malcolm Gladwell