# take a gander

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/take-a-gander
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

To take a look; to check or examine.

## Examples

- Take a gander at this new photo.
- If you are unsure about the contract, take a gander at the final page before signing.
- The detective decided to take a gander at the dusty archives, hoping to uncover a clue that everyone else had overlooked.

## Origin

First recorded in 1887, the phrase is based on the visual habit of craning the neck to see over an obstacle, mimicking the physical posture of a male goose.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.