Look before you leap
We should know what we are getting into before we commit ourselves.
Think of the consequences before you act, as in You’d better check out all the costs before you buy a cellular phone—look before you leap. This expression alludes to Aesop’s fable about the fox who is unable to climb out of a well and persuades a goat to jump in. The fox then climbs on the goat’s horns to get out, while the goat remains trapped. [ c. 1350 ]
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- Look black
Appear threatening or unfavorable, as in The future looked black for Henry after he dropped out of school . This expression employs black in the sense of “boding ill,” a usage dating from about 1700. Also see under dirty look
- Look blank
Be expressionless, appear dumbstruck or overwhelmed. For example, When I asked her how to get to the hospital, she looked blank. [ c. 1700 ]
- Lookdown
[loo k-doun] /ˈlʊkˌdaʊn/ noun 1. a silvery carangid fish of the genus Selene, of the Atlantic Ocean, having a compressed body and eyes placed high on the truncated forehead. [loo k-doun] /ˈlʊkˌdaʊn/ noun 1. the appearance of paper when inspected under reflected light. n. type of sea fish, 1882, from look (v.) + down (adv.). […]
- Look-down
[loo k-doun] /ˈlʊkˌdaʊn/ noun 1. the appearance of paper when inspected under reflected light. n. type of sea fish, 1882, from look (v.) + down (adv.). So called from facial structure.
- Look-down-nose-at
[loo k] /lʊk/ verb (used without object) 1. to turn one’s eyes toward something or in some direction in order to see: He looked toward the western horizon and saw the returning planes. 2. to glance or gaze in a manner specified: to look questioningly at a person. 3. to use one’s sight or vision […]