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echar un vistazo por encima

Grammar & Usage

fixed expression

neutral

How it works

This is a verbal phrase. 'Echar' is the main verb, which means 'to throw' or 'to cast' but here functions idiomatically as 'to give'. 'Un vistazo' means 'a glance' or 'a look'. The prepositional phrase 'por encima' literally means 'on top' or 'above', adding the nuance of superficiality or brevity to the action of looking.

Sample sentences

Voy a echar un vistazo por encima a tu propuesta antes de la reunión.

I'm going to skim through your proposal before the meeting.

Puedes echarle un vistazo por encima al informe, no es muy largo.

You can glance over the report, it's not very long.

Cuando el profesor nos dio el examen, solo le echamos un vistazo por encima a las preguntas.

When the teacher gave us the exam, we only glanced over the questions.

Quick facts

idiomatic_usage:While 'echar' means 'to throw', in this idiom it conveys the action of 'giving' or 'casting' a glance. The 'por encima' is crucial for the meaning of superficiality.

verb_conjugation:The verb 'echar' must be conjugated according to the subject and tense (e.g., 'yo echo', 'tú echas', 'él/ella/usted echa', etc.).

Often used with

echar un vistazo rápido

Mnemonic

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Example

Voy a echar un vistazo por encima a tu propuesta antes de la reunión.

I'm going to skim through your proposal before the meeting.

Puedes echarle un vistazo por encima al informe, no es muy largo.

You can glance over the report, it's not very long.