have a look — see/check/examine
collocationB1IELTS 5+neutralcore
to look at something quickly or to check it, often to get information or to decide what to do next
Say it like a native
Textbook Allow me to examine it momentarily.
Native Let me have a look.
'Have a look' is the everyday 'let me see'; 'examine it momentarily' is stiff.
Pattern: have a look (at something)
In use
- Can you have a look at my essay before I hand it in?daily life
- If I don't understand something in class, I usually have a look at my notes again when I get home.IELTS speaking
Common mistake
✗ Let me have a look it.
✓ Let me have a look at it.
'Have a look AT something' — don't drop 'at'.
Common collocations
have a look (at)— at, quick, proper, around
Don't confuse it
'Have a look' is less formal than 'examine' and more common in spoken English than 'take a look' in British English.