at first sight
Upon initial glance
At first sight describes the moment of initial encounter, before deeper knowledge or reflection.
The phrase most often appears with verbs of perception or emotion: love at first sight, It seemed like a good idea at first sight.
The implication is that later examination may reveal something different.
- glimpseFleeting view
- meetingGathering for discussion
- blind dateArranged meeting between strangers
- noticingBecoming aware of
- snap judgmentRapid evaluation without deliberation
snap decision · gut feeling · attraction · spark · glance · quick glance · deceiving · passing fancy · initial reaction · awe · awareness · assumption · sizing up · intuition · surprise · instant · smile · superficial
at first sighton second thought
Phrase signaling reconsideration
in hindsight · in retrospect · with the benefit of hindsight · eventually · in the long run
first, sight, insight, oversight, foresight, sighted, first-rate, firstly, sighting