Look "V n n" construction

Form

NP
Looker
Verb
NP
Target
a
N

Examples

Looker She
Verb shot
Target Tom
a [a glance.]

Meaning

A Looker turns their gaze towards a Target, typically quickly or furtively.

Roles

Looker
The person who directs their attention at the Target.
Target
The person to whom the Looker directs their attention.

Frames

Perception_active ( Perceiver_agentive, Phenomenon )

Description

This sub-construction of the Giving "V n n" construction corresponds to expressions with a verb of ballistic motion like cast, throw, and shoot, and a noun referring to an act of looking (look, glance) filling the Theme role. The interpretation involves the Giving "V n n" construction in a figurative way: the Target "receives" the Agent's look or glance in the sense that they are being looked at by the Agent. This construction differs from using verbs of looking like look or glance in that it implies that the act of looking is done quickly or furtively.

Inherits from

Sub-constructions

Lexical items ( Verb slot)

Lexical items without a frame: cast Shirley cast them a disgruntled look. throw The lady threw Thierry a glance. shoot She shot Tom a glance.

Lexical items ( N slot)

Perception_active look Shirley cast them a disgruntled look. glance She shot Tom a glance.

Phraseological constructions