glance off
B2 neutral inseparable intransitive
In simple words
To touch something at an angle and slide off without hitting it straight on.
Literal meaning: To glance (look briefly) and move off — in this context 'glance' means to strike lightly and deflect, not to look.
Meanings
1 B2 neutral
To hit a surface at an angle and deflect away rather than penetrating or making full contact.
"The arrow glanced off his armor and landed harmlessly in the ground."
Grammar: inseparable
2 C1
idiomatic
neutral
To have no effect on someone — for criticism or insults to fail to affect a person.
"The insults seemed to glance off him; he just smiled and walked away."
Grammar: inseparable
Usage notes
Used in both physical descriptions (bullets, balls, light) and in figurative language (criticism glancing off someone). Often appears in action writing and sports commentary. The image is of a light, angled contact rather than a direct hit.
Commonly used with
bullet arrow ball surface helmet rock
Forms
Base
glance off
I/you/we/they
3rd person
glances off
he/she/it
Past simple
glanced off
yesterday
Past participle
glanced off
have + pp
-ing form
glancing off
continuous
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