fleeting visit

Meaning

A very brief, quick, or short visit to a place or person. It implies that the duration of the stay was not long enough to fully enjoy or explore everything.

Examples

• I’m sorry I can’t stay longer; this is just a fleeting visit to drop off these documents.

  I’m sorry I can’t stay longer; this is just a fleeting visit to drop off these documents.

• We paid a fleeting visit to London on our way to Scotland.

  We paid a fleeting visit to London on our way to Scotland.

• Despite it being a fleeting visit, we managed to see the main tourist spots.

  Despite it being a fleeting visit, we managed to see the main tourist spots.

• She made a fleeting visit to her parents' house before catching her flight.

  She made a fleeting visit to her parents' house before catching her flight.

• I hate making fleeting visits to beautiful cities because I always want to stay longer.

  I hate making fleeting visits to beautiful cities because I always want to stay longer.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ We had a fleeting visit to the museum.

  ✓ We paid a fleeting visit to the museum.

  You typically 'pay' or 'make' a visit, rather than 'have' a visit when using this formal collocation.

• ✗ I did a fleeting visit to my grandmother.

  ✓ I paid a fleeting visit to my grandmother.

  You do not 'do' a visit. Use 'paid a fleeting visit' or 'made a fleeting visit'.

Related Expressions

Practice

• I only had time to pay a ________ to my hometown last weekend.

  💡 A very brief and quick stay.

  Show answer

  fleeting visit

• We made a ________ to Rome, staying only for a single night.

  💡 A short, temporary trip.

  Show answer

  fleeting visit