A dictionary of Confusable Phrases: More Than 10,000 Idioms and Collocations

look on the bright side of something • take a dim
view of something
look on the bright side of something —see a favorable or hope-
ful aspect of a bad or difficult situation: I was not the kind of
kid who looked on the bright side of anything; I was never
optimistic…
take a dim view of something —regard smth. with disap-
proval: During the course of your educational career you will
meet many book lovers who will take a dim view of you mark-
ing books which are not your own.
Note: 
The expression does not correlate in meaning with the
phrase see in a mirror, dimly—(the Bible) is used to say that
humans have a fundamentally clouded, fractured, and limited
perception of reality (also: see through a glass darkly): When St
Paul says that “we see in a mirror dimly” he is reminding us
about our inability to see clearly, and truly, in the world.
look one’s last on something • see the last of
 something
look one’s last on something —look at smth. for the last time
before leaving a place: People had come on deck to look their
last on their country.
see the last of something —not to see or deal with smth. again:
At Moose Factory, I saw the last of the sulfur matches which
were in their day considered a great advance.
look out for someone • look someone out
look out for someone —try to find smb. by searching: It is
good to know that the police are looking out for my family.
It makes me know that you actually do care about me.
look someone out—search for a person and produce him:
“They keep the directories and registers in this eating-house,”
said Westmacott. “We’ll go and look him out.”
look over something • watch over something
look over something —
1
. (of a room, etc.) have a view of smth.
(also: look on something): In each bungalow there is a balcony
looking over the bay. 2. choose not to notice smth.; ignore
smth.: I’ll look over your carelessness this time, but be more
careful in future. 3. examine or study smth. carefully: When
he sat down to write in his journal, he would look over his
notes and sketches.