steal a glance

verb

To look quickly at someone or something, hoping that nobody notices the action.

“Each boy stole a glance at the other and met the same look of disbelief.”

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Meanings

verbsteal a glance (third-person singular simple present steals a glance, present participle stealing a glance, simple past stole a glance, past participle stolen a glance)

present singular third person steals a glance · participle present stealing a glance · past stole a glance · participle past stolen a glance

  1. idiomaticTo look quickly at someone or something, hoping that nobody notices the action.

    Each boy stole a glance at the other and met the same look of disbelief.

    1 more example

    Zoe took a big breath and stood up, and promised herself she would not look back. That promise lasted only a dozen steps, as she couldn’t help stealing a glance one last time to the spot where she left him.

    2012, David Walliams [pseudonym; David Edward Williams], Ratburger, London: HarperCollins Children’s Books, →ISBN
Cite this entry
APA

steal a glance. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/steal%20a%20glance

MLA

“steal a glance.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/steal%20a%20glance. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “steal a glance,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/steal%20a%20glance.

Source: steal a glance on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.