OBSERVATION
feast one's eyes (on someone or something)
to look at someone or something with pleasure, envy, or admiration.Just feast your eyes on that beautiful juicy steak!Yes, feast your eyes. You won t see one like that again for a long time.
get a load of someone or something
look at someone or something. (Informal or slang.)Get a load of that guy. Have you ever seen such arrogance?Get a load of that car. It's got real wire wheels.
get the once-over
to receive a quick visual examination.Every time John walks by I get the once-over. Does he like me?I went to the doctor yesterday, but I only had a once-over.I wanted a complete examination, not just a once-over.
give someone the once-over
to examine someone visually quickly.John gives me the once-over every time he walks by me.Why does he just give me the onceover? Why doesn't he say hello?
see which way the wind is blowing
to determine what is the most expedient thing to do.We studied the whole situation to see which way the wind was blowing and decided to avoid any conflict at that time.Sam failed to see which way the wind was blowing and got himself caught up in an argument.
sit in (on something)
to witness or observe something without participating. (Usually involves being seated.)I can't sign up for the history class, but I have permission to sit in on it.I asked the professor if I could sit in.
take notice (of something)
to observe something.I didn't take notice of when he came in.They say he came in late, but I didn't take notice.
take someone or something in
to observe someone or something.The zoo is too big to take in the whole thing in one day.It takes two days to take in the museum.
catch something
tr. to see or listen to something. (More specific than the colloquial sense, to manage to hear something.)I will try to catch that new movie this weekend.Did you catch that radio program about cancer last night?
eagle-eye
n. a busybody; a person who watches or monitors other people's actions: a floorwalker, a detective, a hall monitor.Some old eagle-eye across the street saw me standing in the cold and called my wife, who came down and let me in.The store detective is an eagleeye and caught the kleptomaniac.
get a load of something or someone
tr. to look at someone or something.Wow, get a load of Fred!Get a load of the chrome on that set of wheels!
glom
tr. to take a look at someone or something. (Underworld.)Glom this layout for a minute.Come over here and glom the view of the bank from this window.
lamp
tr. to look at someone or something. (The lamps are the eyes.)I lamped the paper and then threw it away.Here, lamp this tire for a minute. It's low, isn't it?
people-watching
n. observing different kinds of people as a pastime.Let's eat at the greasy spoon over on Maple. The food is gross, but the people-watching is good.I enjoy people-watching, especially at airports.
sidewalk superintendent
n. someone who—out of curiosity—watches excavations being dug and buildings being built.All day, the lines of sidewalk superintendents oozed by.I don't want any advice from a sidewalk superintendent.
stakeout
1.
n. a (police) assignment where someone is positioned to observe someone or something.
The two top cops were out on a stakeout.The stakeout at the warehouse backfired. They only found cats.
2.
n. a person who is positioned to observe someone or something.
The stakeout stuck out like a sore thumb, standing there under the streetlight reading a paper.The stakeout was one of Barlowe's best operatives.
stake someone or something out
1.
tr. to position a person so that someone or something can be observed or followed.
The cops staked the car out and made the arrest.Barlowe staked out the apartment building and watched patiently for an hour.
2.
tr. to position a person to observe someone or something.
He staked his best operative out in front of the building.We staked out two men to keep watch.
take a gander (at someone or something)
tr. to look at someone or something.Wow, take a gander at this chick!I wanted to take a gander at the new computer before they started using it.
Watch my lips! and Read my lips!
exclam. “I am going to say something rude to you that I will not say out loud!”You jerk! Watch my lips!Hey, chum! Read my lips!