thumb through
[verb]
Synonyms: browse, dip (into), flip (through), glance (at or over), leaf (through), riff (through), riffle (through), run (through or over), scan, skim (through)

[TahlilGaran] English Synonym Dictionary ▲

thumb through something phrasal verb (see also thumb)
to look through a book, magazine etc quickly:
I began thumbing through the pages of a gardening catalogue.

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲

thumb through
thumb through (something)
to quickly look at a pile of papers or the pages of a magazine or book.
Quinn thumbed through his messages until he found the slip with Ritter's phone number on it.

Bella had to wait for Jill so she passed the time thumbing through magazines.

[TahlilGaran] English Idioms Dictionary ▲

thumb through something
thumb through (something)
to quickly look at a pile of papers or the pages of a magazine or book.
Quinn thumbed through his messages until he found the slip with Ritter's phone number on it.

Bella had to wait for Jill so she passed the time thumbing through magazines.

[TahlilGaran] English Idioms Dictionary ▲

thumb through
• thumb/leaf through (something)
to look quickly through a book/magazine/newspaper without reading it carefully
I thumbed through the garden catalogue at the bookstore.

I thumbed through several magazines while I was waiting for the dentist.

I leafed through several magazines while I was sitting in the doctor's office.

[TahlilGaran] English Idioms Dictionary ▲

thumb through something
• thumb/leaf through (something)
to look quickly through a book/magazine/newspaper without reading it carefully
I thumbed through the garden catalogue at the bookstore.

I thumbed through several magazines while I was waiting for the dentist.

I leafed through several magazines while I was sitting in the doctor's office.

[TahlilGaran] English Idioms Dictionary ▲

thumb through
v. phr. To examine superficially; read cursorily.
I have read "War and Peace" but Fran has only thumbed through it.

[TahlilGaran] English Idioms Dictionary ▲