What's the differences between 'look at', 'take a look at and 'have a look at'?

Question

I want to know the differences in meaning.

#1 She looked at him.
#2 She took a look at him.
#3 She had a look at him.

Answer 1

They seem different to me.
#1 She looked at him: This suggests a straight-on eye-to-eye gaze, a studied gaze.
#2 She took a look at him: This suggests a mere glance, a cursory once-over.
#3 She had a look at him: This suggests a more appraising look, and probably done without him being aware of it.
It's very subtle, but the differences are huge. I think this is a great question.

Answer 2

There's really no difference in their meaning. They're just different stylized versions of the same thing.

There may be very slight differences. For example, #1 is very non-specific, #2 may imply a quick glance, and #3 may be a prolonged examination. But in normal speach, all of these could be used to say the same thing.

Answer 3

1) She 'saw' with her eyes and it made enough of an impression to make its way in here to this format.
2)Aroused by curiosity she ventured to further inspect said subject.
3)I surmise the 3rd to be a gaze of judgement for further attentivenes in said party's direction , I here sense that the "She" has now had her fill and is ready to pursue something else. hence #3 has become past tense....therefore no longer a part of 1 or 2.
*Note* Dialectically speaking, these snippets of phrases are indigeous to particular regions and intent upon the "She" mentioned in the above. It is gender freindly and I personally do not care what "She" did.

Answer 4

it's all in the formality and the different areas of the English speaking world. . .Among friends you could say look at that (#1 sentence) The took a look at is more formal if you are in a meeting saying i took a look at the final plans its more formal than i looked at. In completely formal settings or those who like to talk formally the had a look can play in everyday life, but mostly at formal occasions and such.

Answer 5

This is how these phrases are commonly used in American English.

"Look at" is most often used when the subject is directly viewing the object. - "He looked at the car." "The teacher looked at the student." "The doctor looked at the patient."

"Take a look" is commonly used when someone will be trying to figure out a solution, or the object they are looking at is broken. -
"I'll take a look at that car engine Mrs. Smith," said the car mechanic. "Take a look at this quantum physics homework." "Take a look at the huge grotesque acid burn."

"Had a look" is usually the past tense of "take a look". - "I had a look at your car Mrs. Smith. It's going to take $1000 to fix the engine." "I had a look at your homework Jimmy. You should think of becoming a physicist!" "I had a look at that acid burn. We will have to do reconstructive surgery."

Answer 6

Ummm.....to where did she take that look? Seems like she took a look to him...what the heck is a look? If she took the look at him, it means she took that look and dropped it off near his desk.......do you take a shower or have a shower?

Answer 7

They all mean the same thing each one just sounds better with different words.

Answer 8

1. Just as it states. She looked at him.
2. He got her attention, she likes him.
3. She really likes him, she looked twice....
Just my opinion, but this is what I think it means. :)

Answer 9

No difference necessarily. You have to bear in mind that people dont weigh everything before it pops out of their mouth.

in this case they can all mean exactly the same thing.

Answer 10

she looked at him means the same meaning of she had a look at him...she just looked at him
but she took a look at him i think it means that she looked at him for several seconds to recogonize him or something