في 15 ثانية
- Quickly scanning a document or a collection of items.
- Searching for something specific within a group of things.
- Commonly used for emails, books, drawers, or reports.
المعنى
It means to read or examine something quickly rather than reading every single word carefully. It is like scanning a book or a pile of papers to find what you need or to get a general idea.
أمثلة رئيسية
3 من 6At a restaurant
Give me a second to look through the wine list.
أعطني ثانية لأتصفح قائمة النبيذ.
In a business meeting
I've looked through your proposal and I have some questions.
لقد تصفحت اقتراحك ولدي بعض الأسئلة.
Texting a friend about a photo album
I was looking through our old photos and found this gem!
كنت أتصفح صورنا القديمة ووجدت هذه الجوهرة!
خلفية ثقافية
The phrase 'to look through someone' is a classic British social snub. It implies the person is of such low importance that they are transparent. It is a very polite but devastating way to be rude. In US office culture, 'looking through' something often implies a 'sanity check'—a quick review to make sure there are no obvious disasters before a meeting. With the rise of 'TL;DR' (Too Long; Didn't Read), 'looking through' has become the standard way people consume news and social media globally. It is a survival mechanism for information overload. In many cultures, 'looking through' someone's phone or mail without permission is a major taboo. It is often a plot point in movies to show a lack of trust in a relationship.
Use it for Digital Files
Native speakers use 'look through' for folders, emails, and search results just as much as physical papers.
Inseparability
Never put the object between 'look' and 'through'. It's always 'look through [something]'.
في 15 ثانية
- Quickly scanning a document or a collection of items.
- Searching for something specific within a group of things.
- Commonly used for emails, books, drawers, or reports.
What It Means
Look through is all about speed and focus. Imagine you are at a bookstore. You don't read the whole novel. You flip the pages quickly. You are looking through it to see if it's interesting. It implies a physical or mental movement through a collection of items. You aren't studying; you are scanning.
How To Use It
This is a phrasal verb. You can put the object at the end. For example, I need to look through these emails. You can also use it for physical objects like drawers or closets. If you lost your keys, you might look through your bag. Just remember, it usually suggests you are searching for something specific or just browsing.
When To Use It
Use it when you have a lot of information. Use it at work when checking a report. Use it at home when checking the mail. It's perfect for when you are busy. It tells people you are being efficient. "I'll look through the menu and decide soon."
When NOT To Use It
Don't use it for deep, analytical study. If you are preparing for a medical exam, you aren't just looking through the textbook. You are studying it. Also, don't use it for people's souls—that's too poetic! Use look at for people. Using look through on a person can actually mean ignoring them, like they are invisible. That's a bit rude!
Cultural Background
In fast-paced English-speaking cultures, time is money. People rarely say they will "read everything carefully" unless it's a legal contract. Saying "I'll look through it" sounds proactive. It shows you are taking action without promising to spend hours on it. It's the ultimate "busy person" phrase.
Common Variations
Sometimes people say flip through for magazines. Others say glance through if it's even faster. If you are searching for something hidden, you might say rummage through. But look through is the most common and safest choice for any situation.
ملاحظات الاستخدام
The phrase is neutral and safe for both work and friends. Just remember that 'looking through someone' (a person) is an idiom for ignoring them.
Use it for Digital Files
Native speakers use 'look through' for folders, emails, and search results just as much as physical papers.
Inseparability
Never put the object between 'look' and 'through'. It's always 'look through [something]'.
The 'Snub' Nuance
Be careful using 'look through' with people. It usually means you are being cold or rude to them.
Speed is Key
If you tell your boss you 'looked through' a report, they will assume you did it quickly. If you want to sound more thorough, say 'reviewed' or 'studied'.
أمثلة
6Give me a second to look through the wine list.
أعطني ثانية لأتصفح قائمة النبيذ.
Casual use while making a choice.
I've looked through your proposal and I have some questions.
لقد تصفحت اقتراحك ولدي بعض الأسئلة.
Professional but indicates a quick review.
I was looking through our old photos and found this gem!
كنت أتصفح صورنا القديمة ووجدت هذه الجوهرة!
Nostalgic and friendly.
I looked through every drawer in the kitchen but can't find them.
لقد بحثت في كل درج في المطبخ ولكن لم أجدهم.
Used for physical searching.
I looked through your 10-page text, but I'll wait for the movie version.
لقد تصفحت رسالتك المكونة من 10 صفحات، لكني سأنتظر نسخة الفيلم.
Sarcastic way to say the text was too long.
It's hard to look through these old letters without crying.
من الصعب تصفح هذه الرسائل القديمة دون بكاء.
Emotional context of revisiting memories.
اختبر نفسك
Fill in the blank with the correct form of 'look through'.
I spent all morning ________ my old emails to find the receipt.
The sentence uses 'spent... [verb]-ing', so we need the gerund form.
Which sentence uses 'look through' correctly?
Choose the best option:
Option 1 should be 'look for'. Option 3 has wrong word order. Option 4 should be 'look into'.
Match the phrase to the most likely situation.
Match 'look through' with its context:
'Look through' is for scanning a list or document quickly.
Complete the dialogue.
A: Have you seen the new schedule? B: No, let me ________ my bag; I think I put it in there.
You are searching inside a collection of items (the bag).
🎉 النتيجة: /4
وسائل تعلم بصرية
Look Through vs. Look For
Synonyms by Speed
Fast
- • Glance through
- • Flip through
Medium
- • Look through
- • Skim through
Slow
- • Peruse
- • Examine
بنك التمارين
4 تمارينI spent all morning ________ my old emails to find the receipt.
The sentence uses 'spent... [verb]-ing', so we need the gerund form.
Choose the best option:
Option 1 should be 'look for'. Option 3 has wrong word order. Option 4 should be 'look into'.
Match 'look through' with its context:
'Look through' is for scanning a list or document quickly.
A: Have you seen the new schedule? B: No, let me ________ my bag; I think I put it in there.
You are searching inside a collection of items (the bag).
🎉 النتيجة: /4
الأسئلة الشائعة
12 أسئلةVery similar! 'Skim' is specifically for reading text quickly. 'Look through' is broader and can be used for physical objects like a bag or a drawer.
Yes, that is the literal meaning. It's perfectly correct.
Yes, it's neutral. 'I've looked through your proposal' is common and professional.
The past tense is 'looked through'. The 'ed' is pronounced like a 't'.
Only if you mean you are ignoring them. If you mean you are examining their clothes, say 'looking at'.
'Look over' often implies checking for errors or giving a final approval. 'Look through' is more about searching or getting a general idea.
No, it is inseparable. You cannot say 'look the book through'.
Not necessarily. It only describes the action of searching/scanning.
No, you 'watch' a movie. You could 'look through' a collection of movies to choose one, though.
It means the person ignored you completely, as if you were invisible.
Yes, it's very common to say 'I'm looking through their website for a contact number'.
'Thru' is an informal, Americanized spelling often used in texts or on signs, but 'through' is the correct spelling for all formal writing.
عبارات ذات صلة
skim through
synonymTo read very quickly, skipping parts.
flip through
similarTo turn pages quickly.
look into
contrastTo investigate a problem.
look over
similarTo check or inspect.
see through
contrastTo realize someone is lying.
