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DictionaryganderLook
noun

gander

A look or glance.

I take a gander at the menu before ordering lunch.

Etymology
ganderEnglishmale goose

The looking slang uses the male goose’s name. It evokes stretching the neck to look, transferring that conspicuous animal posture to a human glance.

More examples

  • She stops for a quick gander at the store window.
  • Let me take a gander at that broken zipper.
  • We take a gander inside, but the room is empty.

Forms

gander · ganders

Similar words

look
Look is neutral and fits more situations than gander.
glance
Glance emphasizes brevity, while gander is informal and conversational.
peek
Peek suggests a quick or partly hidden look.