Took a gander is a colloquial phrase used to mean "took a quick look" or "glanced at". The IPA phonetic transcription for this phrase would be /tʊk ə ˈɡændər/, with the stressed syllable in "gander" being the second syllable. While the spelling of "gander" may seem unusual, it comes from the Old English word "gandra", which meant "male goose". Over time, "gander" also came to mean "to look around". So, when someone says they "took a gander", they are saying they took a quick look around.
Took a gander is an idiomatic expression that means to have a quick or casual look or glance at something. It is often used to describe a brief, informal observation or inspection of something without any specific or focused intent to deeply analyze or examine it.
The phrase "took a gander" is derived from the literal meaning of the word "gander" as a male goose. Geese are known for their alert and curious nature, often turning their heads to look around or take a brief glance. Thus, the phrase implies a similar action of briefly looking or peeking at something out of curiosity or interest.
The usage of "took a gander" is informal and commonly appears in casual conversations or informal writing. It is often employed when describing a quick assessment or evaluation of an object, situation, or even a person's appearance. For example, one might say, "I just took a quick gander at the report, and it seems to be in order," meaning that they briefly looked at the report without conducting a thorough examination.
Overall, "took a gander" conveys the idea of a casual and cursory observation, reflecting a sense of curiosity, interest, or a need for a superficial understanding of something without deeper investigation or analysis.