pay a brief visit

Meaning

This expression means to go to see someone or visit a place for a very short period of time. It is a polite, slightly formal but very common way to describe dropping by or stopping in to check on someone.

Examples

• Since we were in the neighborhood, we decided to pay a brief visit to my aunt.

  Since we were in the neighborhood, we decided to pay a brief visit to my aunt.

• The doctor will pay a brief visit to the patient before she is discharged.

  The doctor will pay a brief visit to the patient before she is discharged.

• I need to pay a brief visit to the office to pick up my laptop.

  I need to pay a brief visit to the office to pick up my laptop.

• They paid a brief visit to the local museum during their afternoon stroll.

  They paid a brief visit to the local museum during their afternoon stroll.

• He promised to pay a brief visit to his grandparents on his way home.

  He promised to pay a brief visit to his grandparents on his way home.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ I will make a brief visit to my uncle.

  ✓ I will pay a brief visit to my uncle.

  In English, we pay a visit, not make a visit, when using this specific collocation.

• ✗ We paid a brief visit at the gallery.

  ✓ We paid a brief visit to the gallery.

  The preposition to is used after visit when it functions as a noun in this phrase (pay a visit to somewhere/someone).

Related Expressions

Practice

• On our way to the beach, we decided to ___ to our old high school.

  💡 Go see a place quickly.

  Show answer

  pay a brief visit

• I can't stay long, but I wanted to ___ to make sure you are feeling better.

  💡 Stop by for a short time.

  Show answer

  pay a brief visit