The phrase "going once over lightly" is spelled as /ˈɡoʊɪŋ wʌns ˈoʊvər ˈlaɪtli/. The first word, "going," is pronounced with a long "o" sound and a hard "g" sound. The word "once" is pronounced with a long "o" sound and a soft "s" sound at the end. "Over" is pronounced with a soft "o" sound and a "v" sound. Lastly, "lightly" is pronounced with a soft "l" sound and a long "i" sound at the end. When written correctly, this phrase can indicate a brief or superficial look at something.
"Going once over lightly" is an idiomatic expression used to describe a quick, superficial examination or review of something. The phrase implies a brief and cursory inspection rather than a thorough examination or analysis.
When someone engages in "going once over lightly," they are typically not delving deeply into the details or intricacies of a subject but rather skimming over the surface. It often suggests a lack of thoroughness or attention to detail, with only a passing glance or casual overview.
This phrase finds its origins in auction houses, where bids are placed on items by interested buyers. The auctioneer traditionally announces the bidding process by saying, "Going once, going twice, sold!" to indicate a rapid progression of bids. By adding "over lightly" to the phrase, it implies a speedy pass over or evaluation of an item, akin to a hasty assessment made during an auction.
In a broader context, "going once over lightly" can be applied to various situations or activities. For instance, if a person is quickly reviewing a document without carefully examining each line, they might describe themselves as giving it a once over lightly. Similarly, if someone scans through a book or skims a newspaper article without reading it thoroughly, they might claim to have gone over it once over lightly. Overall, this expression portrays a shallow or superficial inspection rather than an in-depth analysis.