Common Confusing Words in English: Look over / Overlook

Overlook and look over are two terms that are very similar but mean two different things. They are often confused. We will look at the definitions of the terms overlook and look over, how they are used and some examples of that use in sentences.

1. Look over (phrasal verb)

Meaning

  • When you look over something or someone, you quickly examine it or them.
For example:

"I asked my teacher to look over what I had written."


2. Overlook (verb)


Meaning

  • 1. Overlook means to ignore, to not notice something. When you overlook someone or something you fail to notice or consider it or them.

For example:
"I think my teacher overlooked some of my mistakes."
  • 2. Overlook also means to observe something from above.

For example:
"We can overlook the sea from here."

Note: Look over is two separate words, overlook is one word.

More Example Sentences

Look over

  • "Make sure to look over the wine list while you wait for your meal."
  • "Let me look over my schedule."
  • "We must look over the house before we decide to rent it."
  • "Some officials will look over our factory this Friday."
  • "Would you quickly look over these figures for me and see if there are any obvious mistakes?"
  • "Will you please look over my report before I submit it?"

Overlook

  • "We can overlook the city from here."
  • "We overlook the church from our house."
  • "It is easy to overlook a small detail like that."
  • "She was generous enough to overlook my little mistake."

  • "We could not afford to overlook such a serious offence."
  • Companies are so busy analyzing the financial implications that they overlook the effect on workers."


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

"It's a no-brainer."

Image
  Meaning Something so simple to do or understand  Something so obvious that you do not need to think much about it If you describe a question or decision as a no-brainer , you mean that it is a very easy one to answer or make  and requires very little thought.  [informal] If you describe a person or action as a no-brainer , you mean that they are stupid.  [US, informal, disapproval] Note We need our brains to think and reason on things, that much is obvious. Some choices, however, are considered to be so easy to make, that a person does not even need to think about them much before making them. A choice like this is sometimes called a ‘no-brainer.’ Example:  Mike was sweating bullets on a hot summer day and needed to cool off. His friend offered him a cold cup of lemonade, which Mike accepted without hesitation; it was a no-brainer for him.  (In other words, he didn’t have to think about it too much; it was a simple decision for him to make.) More Example Sentences That last test que
Read more

Idiom: At all cost(s) / At any cost

Image
  "At all costs" Meaning At all costs and at any cost are two idioms that describe a situation in which the speaker is willing to do anything to attain a goal.  Used for saying that something must be done, however difficult it is or however much damage it causes. If something must be done or avoided at all costs , it must be done or avoided whatever happens. At all costs  and  at any cost  are two versions of the same idiom. Synonyms: by any means, whatever happens,  no matter what, regardless, at any price Example Sentences The president must be protected at all costs. Ann told the doctor to preserve her mother's sight at all costs. He wanted her at any cost, even if it meant giving up everything he had. He is determined to win at any cost. We must avoid conflicts at any cost. I'm determined to attain my purpose at any cost. At all costs , we must avoid letting the press hear about this. She desires to succeed in business at any cost. He wanted to find his lost dog
Read more

Idiom: Get (something) off your chest

Image
  "Get it off your chest" Meaning If you get it off your chest , you tell somebody about something that's been bothering you or making you feel guilty for a long time and you've been thinking about a lot. Example Dialog Jean has been carrying a secret for years. It has weighed her down and made her quite unhappy. Jean is tired of carrying the burden of the secret. Jean and her friend, Fred, are talking one day... Fred :  I notice that you have been quite down in the dumps, lately. Jean :  I have a big big secret that I am so afraid to tell. Fred :  I am your very good friend, Jean.  I will understand and accept anything you want to tell me.  You know, sometimes it is a great relief to just  get  it  off  your  chest . Example Sentences I can see that something's upsetting you, so why don't you get it off your chest and tell me what it is. You'll feel better if you do. Charlie was feeling bad about cheating on his wife, so he got it off his chest and told
Read more